Corruption Court Judge Reveals There Is 'Markus' Who Uses Names Asking For Allotments To Lawyer Juliari Batubara

JAKARTA - The presiding judge of the alleged bribery case for the provision of social assistance (bansos), Muhammad Damis revealed information that there were parties who tried to 'play' in this case. The party requested something from the legal adviser of former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

"We also received information that certain parties on behalf of the panel of judges requested something from your legal advisory team (Juliari)," said Judge Damis during the trial, Monday, May 31.

Judge Damis believes that the party is Markus or case broker. Therefore, the panel of judges requested that Juliari Batubara's team of lawyers not serve the request of the case broker.

"I remind you that from the beginning I asked for help from both the public prosecutor and legal advisers so that they do not serve if there is such a request because such a request is a case broker," said Damis.

"I remind you once again that there is nothing in this assembly's dictionary to ask for something from the litigants," he continued.

Judge Damis also confirmed that he had never received or asked for anything related to the handling of the case. The judge called profiteering to ask for something from a lawyer as an act of tarnishing law enforcement.

"From the beginning, I have said that for me, a Muslim, a briber and a bribe giver, then on the Day of Resurrection his place is only in hell," he said.

At today's trial, the prosecutor at the KPK presented three witnesses. The three witnesses are former Commitment Making Officers (PKK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso. Meanwhile, one other witness is Agustri yogasmara as the operator of Commission II Member of the DPR PDIP Faction Ihsan Yunus.

"Witnesses for Juliari on Monday 31 May 2021, namely Adi Wahyono, Matheus Joko Santoso, and Agustri yogasmara," said Acting KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri in his statement, Monday, May 31.

Juliari Peter Batubara was charged with accepting bribes worth Rp. 32.4 billion in a project to procure social assistance (bansos) for COVID-19 throughout Jabodetabek. The bribe was received through two of his men.

According to the prosecutor's indictment, Juliari received bribes through Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso of Rp1,280 billion from a private party named Harry Van Sidabukke.

Juliari also received money of Rp 1.950 billion from the President Director of PT Tigapilar Agro Utama Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja.

Finally, the indictment also states that Juliari received money worth Rp. 29,252,000,000 or Rp. 29.2 billion from several providers of goods for the social assistance project.