DPR: The Judge's Decision in the Case of Grandfather Masir Reflects Substantive Justice
Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Bimantoro Wiyono, assessed that the Situbondo District Court's panel of judges had carried out its functions proportionally in deciding the case of Masir's grandfather (71), the defendant in the theft of five cendet birds in the Baluran National Park area, East Java.
According to him, on the one hand, the law is still enforced to maintain the sustainability of the country's conservation areas. But on the other hand, the judge also considered the subjective condition of the defendant who is old and the fact that most of the sentence has been served.
"This verdict shows the face of the judiciary that not only upholds the law, but also considers the aspects of justice and humanity," Bimantoro said in his statement, Thursday, January 8.
As is known, the panel of judges led by Haries Suharman sentenced 5 months and 20 days in prison, 10 days lighter than the Public Prosecutor's (JPU) demand for six months.
The verdict was read on Wednesday, January 7, considering that the defendant was proven to have legally and convincingly violated Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Living Resources and their Ecosystems.
In this case, Masir's grandfather is known to have spent 5 months and 17 days in detention, leaving only three days of sentence after the verdict was read. The panel of judges also ordered the return of evidence in the form of one motorcycle and one mobile phone to the defendant.
In addition to the PN Situbondo Court, the Supreme Court also appreciates the efforts of the Supreme Court of Justice in upholding the independence and integrity of judges in deciding cases.
"As a working partner of Commission III of the DPR RI, we hope that the judicial institution will continue to maintain a balance between legal certainty and substantive justice, especially in cases that touch on small communities," said the Gerindra Legislator.
In the future, Bimantoro encourages law enforcement in the field of natural conservation to be accompanied by an educational and preventive approach to the people around the forest area.
"Thus, environmental protection can go hand in hand with increasing legal awareness and public welfare," he concluded.