Ex-KPK Investigator: Judges Involved in Bribery Must Be Punished More Severely

JAKARTA - Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator, Praswad Nugraha, asked the Head of the Depok I District Court (PN) Wayan Eka Mariarta and the Deputy Head of the Depok District Court Bambang Setyawan to be severely punished if found guilty.

This was conveyed by Praswad after the KPK carried out a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) at the Depok District Court and named the two as suspects along with four others. The objection to the sentence was supported because the judge should be the last bastion of justice.

"Regarding judges who are proven to have committed corruption, we believe that the punishment should be increased," Praswad said in a written statement quoted on Monday, February 9.

Praswad also alluded to the fact that judges had actually received significant welfare increases from President Prabowo. So, a heavy sentence must be imposed on those who are corrupt.

"President Prabowo Subianto has publicly announced a 280 percent increase in judges' salaries to ensure their welfare and independence," he said.

"Therefore, the moral and structural justification for the practice of bribery in the judicial body cannot be justified," continued Praswad.

Furthermore, Praswad said, the silent operation against the judge also showed that the phenomenon of corruption had touched the heart of law enforcement in the country. This condition could collapse the judicial process if it is left unchecked.

"The KPK continues to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining the dignity of the law and providing a deterrent effect. In the future, this event must be a momentum for serious improvement in strengthening the integrity of the judicial institution so that it can restore public confidence," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK announced five suspects of receiving bribes and gratuities related to land dispute management at the Depok District Court (PN) after carrying out a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on Thursday evening, February 6. They are the Chairman of the Depok District Court (PN) I Wayan Eka Mariarta; Deputy Chairman of the Depok District Court (PN) Bambang Setyawan; Jurusita PN Depok Yohansyah Maruanaya; President Director of PT Karabha Digdaya, Trisnandi Yulrisman; and Head of Corporate Legal PT Karabha Digdaya, Berliana Tri Kusuma.

This case is said to have started in 2023, when the Depok PN granted a lawsuit by PT Karabha Digdaya, which is a business entity in the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) related to a land dispute of 6,500 meters in Tapos District, Depok, West Java.

PT Karaba Digdaya then allegedly gave Rp850 million which came from the disbursement of a check with a fictitious invoice payment underlying PT SKBB Consulting Solusindo (consultant to PT KD) to.

The donation was allegedly handed over to I Wayan Eka and Bambang Setiawan through Yohansyah as a jurusita.

As a result of their actions, the suspects are suspected of violating Article 605 letter a and/or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.

In addition, Bambang is also suspected of violating Article 12 B of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes. Because, he is suspected of receiving a gratification of IDR 2.5 billion which originated from a deposit on a foreign exchange exchange on behalf of PT Daha Mulia Valasindo (DMV).