Habiburokhman: President Never Interferes in Criminal Legal Matters

House of Representatives Commission III member Habiburokhman has stressed that President Prabowo Subianto does not interfere in criminal legal matters. He stated that Prabowo has no track record of intervening in legal cases.

This statement was made during a Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU) with experts and academics discussing the Draft Law on Asset Forfeiture. The discussion arose after legal expert Faisal Santiago highlighted the dangers of linking legal processes to presidential permission, referencing recent viral news. Faisal noted that requiring the president’s permission for certain legal actions would be hazardous and stressed the need for clarity and the principle of prudence in the draft law.

Responding to this, Habiburokhman took the opportunity to clarify the President’s stance. “Before addressing Mr. Faisal’s point regarding presidential permission, I need to convey that our President, Mr. Prabowo Subianto, has never interfered in criminal procedural law,” Habiburokhman asserted.

The Gerindra Party Deputy Chairman stated that the President has repeatedly warned his cadres, including members of the DPR, to be careful and not violate the law. He quoted Prabowo as saying, “If you do, there will be no assistance or intervention whatsoever from me.” Habiburokhman cited the case of former Ombudsman Chairman Hery Susanto, a former Gerindra cadre and DPP executive, who was arrested by the prosecutor’s office without any intervention from the President, as proof that legal processes run their course regardless of political affiliation.