Former KPK Investigators Value Rehabilitation Of Ira Puspadewi Et Al By Prabowo Potentially Eliminate The Deterrent Effect Of Corruptors

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Praswad Nugraha assessed that the rehabilitation given by President Prabowo Subianto to former Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), Ira Puspadewi and two other former directors could cause bad precedents. Among them is the loss of a deterrent effect for perpetrators of corruption, which has always been built through law enforcement and the judicial process.

"This decision can be a blueprint for other corruptors to find legal loopholes to avoid accountability," Praswad told reporters in a written statement quoted on Thursday, November 26.

Praswad alluded to this kind of condition as well as being able to kill the spirit of eradicating corruption in law enforcement agencies. This rehabilitation sends a clear signal to all business actors, bureaucrats, and politicians, that the law can be negotiated as long as it has access and closeness to power," he said.

"A deterrent effect that has been built through the law enforcement and judicial process for years has been dashed in an instant," continued Praswad.

Instead of sympathize with corruptors through various legal remedies, Praswad said, the government should strengthen the spirit of anti-corruption. Do not let law enforcement officials think that their work is in vain.

"In the long term, this will kill the spirit of eradicating corruption at the institutional level, because law enforcers will wonder, why bother building a solid and strong case with the evidence if in the end it can be removed with a political decision signature," he said.

This decision clearly shows how executive power is able to intervene in the judiciary realm against the law.

As previously reported, President Prabowo Subianto signed the granting of rehabilitation for three parties involved in alleged corruption in business cooperation (KSU) and the acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry.

They are Ira Puspadewi as former Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry; former Director of Planning and Development of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono, and former Commercial and Service Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry.

The decision was conveyed by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad in a press statement with Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya at the Presidential office, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 25.

"From the results of communication with the government, thank God there are today, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto has signed a letter of rehabilitation for the three names," he said.

Meanwhile, Ira Puspadewi et al were found guilty in the corruption case of the acquisition and business cooperation (KSU) of PT Jembatan Nusantara by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry. He was later sentenced to 4.5 years and a fine of IDR 500 million by the Jakarta Corruption Court.

Meanwhile, the former Director of Planning and Development of PT ASDP, Harry Muhammad Adhi Cakson and former Director of Commercial and Services of PT ASDP, Muhammad Yusuf Hadi was sentenced to 4 years and a fine of Rp250 million. They were found guilty and committed corruption together as the second alternative indictment Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999.