Ba'asyir to get sentence remission

Defying Australia's request, the Indonesian government confirmed on Thursday that Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir would have his jail term cut in observance of the Idul Fitri Islamic holiday next week.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin would not unveil the length of the remission, but said that like other prisoners Ba'asyir was entitled to the jail term reduction due to his good conduct while serving his 30-month imprisonment for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings.

"Under the prevailing regulations on remission, Ba'asyir is eligible for the remission," Hamid said. The government is revising the regulation upon the request of Australia, which Hamid said would only be issued by the end of November. Ba'asyir was granted four and a half-month remission in observance of Independence Day in August. -- JP