An Islamic militant convicted over the 2002 Bali bombings walked free Thursday after his sentence was cut for Indonesia's Independence Day, sparking anger among grieving relatives in Australia.
Puryanto, one of 12 Bali bombing convicts to have their sentences reduced, was handed a three-month reprieve, meaning he had completed his almost five-year term in Borneo island's Balikpapan prison.
"He got a remission and he is now free," said Suiarno, a prison official.
Two other militants jailed in Balikpapan in connection with the bombings which killed 202 people - the worst terror attack since September 11, 2001 - had their sentences cut by four months each, another official said.
An official at Kerobokan jail on Bali island said that nine militants convicted over the 2002 attacks, known locally as Bali Bomb I after a second deadly bombing last October, also had their terms cut by four months.
"Out of all the convicts in Kerobokan prison that received remissions, nine Bali Bomb I convicts received remissions," said Ilham Djaya, governor of Bali's main prison, according to the online Detikcom news service.
Puryanto and the 11 other militants all played relatively minor roles in the 2002 attacks, such as giving shelter to the key bombers and attending meetings where the bombing was discussed.
The remissions sparked anger in Australia, which lost 88 nationals in the attacks on two Bali night-spots.
"I want people to know that this is ridiculous, these short sentences," said David Stewart, whose son Anthony was among the dead.
Peter Hughes, who was injured in the attacks, also objected.
"It is OK for me, I am alive, I bear the scars of what it is all about, but you have to feel for the victims' families. They cop it every time this comes up. It must be very draining for them," Hughes said.
Indonesia typically grants sentence cuts of up to six months twice a year - once to mark Independence Day every August 17, and another to mark major religious holidays, handed out according to a convict's faith.
Remissions are given to all prisoners who have shown good conduct except for those on death row and serving life sentences. Three of the 2002 Bali bomb ringleaders are awaiting execution.
Australian marijuana smuggler Schapelle Corby had her 20-year sentence cut by two months due to her good behaviour, Djaya reportedly said.
"Corby got a remission because of her good behaviour. She has been joining in activities, such as sports. And she also attends lectures on cleanliness," said Djaya, as reported in Detikcom.
However, none of the Bali Nine - a group of Australians convicted separately for attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia - were given cuts, Mataram Mayun, an official from Bali's justice ministry, was quoted as saying.
Of the nine, two are on death row, two are serving life terms and five have begun 20-year terms. It was not clear why the five were not included among those getting remissions. Other officials at the jail were not available for comment. The youngest son of Indonesia's former dictator Suharto also received a sentence cut, along with 54,000 prisoners nation-wide, Justice Minister Hamid Alawuddin told reporters at an Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta.
Tommy Suharto was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2002 for planning the murder of a judge who had convicted him of corruption. The sentencing was widely criticised for being too light.
The supreme court later reduced the term to 10 years without explanation. Awaluddin could not say how many months Tommy's term was cut by. Last year he received an 11-month plus 35-day reduction.
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