President Prabowo Subianto’s pledge to pardon corruption offenders who return stolen assets has been met with scepticism by legal experts and activists, who warn it could undermine accountability in Indonesia’s long-standing fight against graft.
Speaking before hundreds of Indonesian university students in Cairo during his visit to Egypt last week, Prabowo said he would implement a plan to recover stolen assets in the coming weeks or months.
“I am giving them the opportunity to repent,” Prabowo said. “Hey, you corrupters, or those who feel that you have stolen from the people, if you return what you stole, we might forgive you. But please return it.”
Prabowo did not expand further on how this programme would be implemented, but said his government would provide directions on how graft convicts can discreetly return their ill-gotten gains.
Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra later clarified that the presidential pardon would be granted if offenders repaid what they stole by August 1, 2025, adding that the move aimed to ease overcrowding in the prison system.
“Indonesia’s corruption index keeps worsening. After decades of focusing on punitive measures, it’s evident that we need a new approach to tackle this enduring issue,” Yusril said in an interview with television news network BTV.