Mahfud MD: Government Considers Proposal For Revision Of Military Court Law

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government would consider the proposed revision of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1997 concerning military justice.

"Yes, we will note it. We will note it first for consideration," Mahfud said at the vice president's official residence in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 2.

The proposal to revise Law No. 31 of 1997 concerning military justice emerged after the alleged bribery case for the procurement of goods and services by the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Marsdya Henri Alfiandi.

"Later we will schedule it, it will already be in the National Legislation Program (national legislation program), yes, in the long-term National Legislation Program," said Mahfud.

However, Mahfud agreed that the revision of the law on military justice needs to be discussed immediately.

"Later, we can talk about when the priority will be included. I agree that needs to be discussed immediately," said Mahfud.

The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform said that the revision of the Law on military justice was needed to ensure that the legal process of TNI personnel who committed general crimes was brought to justice through general justice.

So far, the Coalition believes that the law is often used as a means of impunity and alibis not to try TNI soldiers in the general court.

"Now the most appropriate (case of Kabasarnas) in the military, now because Law No. 31 is still in effect before there is a new law, but I believe the TNI can be objective, in fact we coordinate a day directly with the suspect," added Mahfud.

According to Mahfud, the law on military justice has actually been supplemented by Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI which regulates that if members of the TNI violate the public interest, they are subject to the general court.

The corruption case at Basarnas is considered a violation of the public interest, therefore, even though the crime was committed by active members of the TNI, a number of parties said that it should be tried in the general court.

The case was revealed after investigators from the anti-corruption agency conducted a hand arrest operation (OTT) on Tuesday (25/7) in Cilangkap and Jatisampurna, Bekasi.

After the OTT, on Friday (28/7), Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Johanis Tanak admitted that his subordinates made mistakes and made mistakes in determining the suspect against members of the TNI.

The statement was made after the entourage of the Head of the Indonesian Armed Forces Information Center (Kapuspen) Rear Admiral Julius Widjojono accompanied by the Commander of the Central Military Police (Danpuspom) TNI Marshal Muda Agung Handoko and his staff visited the KPK building.

Head of Basarnas Marsdya TNI Henri Alfiandi (HA) is suspected of receiving bribes of Rp. 88.3 billion from several goods procurement projects at Basarnas in the period 2021-2023.

There is one other suspect who is also an active TNI officer, namely Koorsmin Kabasarnas Lt. Col. Adri Budi Cahyanto. Meanwhile, the suspect from the civilian side is the President Commissioner of PT. Multi Grafika Cipta Sejati (MGCS) Mulsunadi Gunawan (MG), President Director of PT IGK (Intertekno Grafika Sejati (IGK) Marilya (MR), and President Director of PT Kunji Abadi Utama (KAU) Roni Aidil.