PRIME NEWS POST
P. Siantar, (The INDONESIAN)— The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Parsaoran Simalungun continues to strengthen its commitment to expanding access to justice. On Friday (Nov 7), the organization held a legal education session for inmates at the Class II-A Correctional Facility (Lapas) in Pematangsiantar.
The event was attended by Daud Simamora, Head of Inmate Guidance (Kasibinadik), representing the prison warden Davy Bartian, along with registration staff Herry. Around 30 inmates currently under police custody participated actively in the one-hour session.
Epianus Ndraha, S.H., served as the main speaker, accompanied by members of the LBH Parsaoran Medan team. The session, themed “Legal Aid Process for Defendants at the Judicial Level,” featured an interactive discussion between the legal experts and the inmates.
Epianus explained that the initiative is part of a nationwide free legal aid program under Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights
(Kemenkumham), implemented in cooperation with accredited legal aid institutions across the country. The program aims to ensure that every citizen including those undergoing legal proceedings receives proper legal representation and fair treatment before the law.
Meanwhile, Marihot F. Sinaga, S.H., Director of LBH Parsaoran Simalungun and co-speaker at the event, emphasized the importance of continuity in such programs.
“We are committed to holding similar sessions at various correctional facilities throughout Simalungun and nearby cities,” Marihot said. “The goal is to help inmates understand the importance of legal assistance and prepare them to face legal proceedings with greater awareness and fairness.”
He further stressed that inmates, even after being convicted, retain their fundamental right to justice and legal counsel.
“They may have made mistakes, but justice must never be neglected. Legal assistance is a basic right that must be protected,” he added.
In his remarks, Daud Simamora expressed appreciation for the program, highlighting its relevance to the prison’s reformation mission.
“We strongly support this initiative. It helps inmates understand their rights and the vital role of legal representation in every judicial process,” he said. “We hope this positive collaboration continues, so inmates can avoid misunderstandings about legal procedures and ensure fair outcomes based on facts and law.”
The event concluded with an open Q&A session, fostering dialogue and awareness among participants.
Reported by the Editorial Team, Prime News Post
Sources: LBH Parsaoran Simalungun, Pematangsiantar Correctional Facility | Photos: Documentation / Google / Courtesy
