Mahfud MD Will Coordinate With The KPK Regarding Cassation On Gazalba Saleh's Free Verdict

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD will coordinate with the KPK regarding the appeal for the acquittal of the Bandung Corruption Court (Tipikor) against the inactive Supreme Court Judge Gazalba Saleh.

"Later, I will coordinate to go up to the cassation. The KPK, yes, because those representing the country are the KPK," Mahfud said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 2.

Mahfud also emphasized that his party did not dictate to the KPK, but coordinated for law enforcement.

"We coordinate the KPK for cassation. Coordination is not dictating, what is clear is that this law must be enforced," he said.

Mahfud said the cassation was part of the state's efforts to enforce the law.

"But what is clear is that in criminal law the opponents of the convicts are the state, not people. Because of the country to what extent there are legal remedies that can be taken, the state will do it," he said.

Previously, the KPK said it would file an appeal against the acquittal against the inactive Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh in a bribery case handling the case at the Supreme Court.

"KPK in principle respects every decision of the panel of judges. However, we are very confident in the evidence that the KPK has so that we will immediately take legal action to appeal to the Supreme Court," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri.

Ali also said that the investigation by the KPK against Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh was still ongoing for gratification and money laundering (TPPU) cases. The KPK will continue the case to court.

"KPK will also immediately continue the process of investigating cases of alleged receipt of gratuities and money laundering on behalf of the suspect GS so that it takes him to the trial process," he said.

The KPK emphasized that the prosecution of suspected corruption cases within the Supreme Court was not merely law enforcement, but also in order to maintain the authority and muruah of the court.

"The handling of this case is essentially not merely law enforcement of criminal acts of corruption, but also an effort to maintain the muruah of judicial institutions so that there is no fraudulent (dishonest) practice of corruption, one of which is through the mode of buying and selling cases," he said.

The defendant Gazalba Saleh was initially sentenced to 11 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to six months in prison by the KPK public prosecutor for being proven to have received a bribe of 20 thousand Singapore dollars.

However, the Chief Justice of the Corruption Court at the Bandung District Court, Yoserizal, stated that the evidence to ensnare Gazalba Saleh was not strong.

Based on these considerations, the panel of judges at the Bandung Corruption Court acquitted Gazalba Saleh in the alleged bribery case management case at the Supreme Court.