Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government has extended the free legal aid program for the underprivileged or poor people again, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly said.

“This legal aid shows the state’s role in protecting and guaranteeing citizens’ human right to access to justice and equality before law,” Laoly said here on Monday.

The legal aid is being provided through 619 legal aid organizations that have passed the verification and accreditation process, he informed.

The legal aid program exists due to the incapability of many people within the nation to access legal services because of financial difficulties, he said.

“This program is a form of dispensing justice to the poor,” Laoly added.

The 619 legal aid organizations are obligated to provide litigation and non-litigation legal aid to people, he said.

Litigation cases are resolved in court, while non-litigation cases are resolved outside of court, such as through negotiation or mediation, he explained.

The primary goal of the legal aid program is to assist people who need it, and not profit, the minister said.

“Please set aside the profit motive when carrying out the legal aid program,” he emphasized.

Laoly urged all legal aid organizations to maintain integrity and provide the best services to the poor.

He said he believes that the chosen organizations are credible legal aid providers and would not break the law since they have passed the verification and accreditation process.

However, if any legal aid body is found violating the law in the process of providing legal aid services, then the ministry will deliver a severe punishment, he cautioned.

This punishment could come in the form of reduced budget or revocation of accreditation, he said.

People who wish to receive legal aid should fulfill several criteria, such as submitting a request, either written or verbal, with their identity and a short description of the problem, he added.

Documents related to the case and the poor clarification letter from local officials where the people reside would also need to be submitted, he said.

Detailed information on the mechanisms and conditions, as well as the list of legal aid organizations, can be viewed at bphn.go.id, he added.

Source: Antara News