Indonesia's president says those convicted of corruption will be pardoned if they return their proceeds

Indonesian President Subianto Prabowo says he may grant amnesty to corrupt people if they return the proceeds of corruption.

Speaking to hundreds of Indonesian university students in Cairo during a visit to Egypt on Wednesday, Prabowo said he would implement a plan to recover ill-gotten gains in the coming weeks and months.

Prabowo said, "Hey, you corrupt people, or those who feel they have stolen from the people, we may forgive you if you return what you have stolen." But please return it."

He gave no details of the plan, but said his government might provide ways for criminals to quietly return the proceeds of corruption.

Prabowo, who took office on October 20, has vowed to root out corruption and take a "realistic" approach to preventing it by raising salaries for state officials responsible for huge budgets.

Under Mr. Prabowo's predecessor, Joko Widodo, corruption efforts slowed during the decade in power, experts said.