Antasari Azhar to be released in September

JAKARTA. The Law and Human Rights Ministry on Wednesday granted Idul Fitri remission to 3.015 inmates of Banten penitentiaries, including former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari Azhar.

Antasari received a two-month reduction and, hence, would be released in September, said Tangerang penitentiary chief warden Harpan. Antasari has been serving his sentence for eight years. "He is granted the remission because he has been behaving well," Harpan said.

Responding to the issue, Antasari said he would comply with whatever policies the authorities planned to impose on him.

Antasari was convicted in 2009 for masterminding the murder of business executive Nasrudin Zulkarnaen.

However, many have suspected that Antasari was set up in a conspiracy to prosecute him while he chaired the KPK, due to his efforts to bring to trial over alleged bribery former Bank Indonesia deputy governor Aulia Pohan, an in-law of then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.