Jakarta - Celebrating Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year 2577 this year, the government of Indonesia through its Penitentiary Directorate General on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 delivered sentence cut to 44 Confucianists convicts, including one under-age.
Indonesia acknowledges Confucianism as a state religion and Chinese New Year or known as Imlek is recognized as the major celebration for its followers.
"The Directorate General of Penitentiary at the Ministry of Immigration and Penitentiary gives special sentence reduction special Imlek 2577 to 44 inmates," the government said.
This year, Lunar New Year falls on 17 February, marking the beginning of Horse Year with fire element.
"The sentence reduction is implemented selectively and objective. Besides as a form of appreciation for good deeds, this policy is also part of the government efforts to reduce the number of inmate in detention centers and prisons," Immigration and Penitentiary Minister Agus Adrianto said.
Average of the sentence reduction is vary from 15 to 45 days.
According to the government data, there are 272,394 inmates kept in all Indonesia's detention centres and prisons as of 9 February 2026 except 1,824 juveniles. ***
