Low Sentence On Bribe Of Former KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan Has Been Predicted

JAKARTA - The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) predicts that Saeful Bahri, the bribing verdict of former General Election Commission (KPU) Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan, will be low. This is because the demands from the KPK Public Prosecutor are also low. Thus, Saeful Bahri was sentenced to 20 months or 1 year and 8 months by the Corruption Court.

"The low verdict against Saeful Bahri also cannot be separated from the work of the prosecution of the KPK, which seems to take this case lightly. The proof is that the defendant was only charged for 2 years and 6 years in prison," said ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana in his statement to VOI, Friday, May 29.

With the low demand, Kurnia said, the public could see that the anti-graft agency's work had softened up with the perpetrators of corruption. In fact, Kurnia said, the KPK has now entered into a new normality under the leadership of Firli Bahuri, cs.

"If using the vocabulary that is currently popular, the KPK has entered a new normal era under the leadership of Komjen Firli Bahuri. The public is forced to make peace with the KPK leadership situation which is actually far from ideal," he said.

This decision, said Kurnia, also adds to the long list of light convictions in corruption cases. Given, in 2019, the average conviction for corruption cases was only 2 years and 7 months in prison.

"Apart from that, light convictions in corruption cases should also be a focus for the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Because, how could the maximum deterrent effect be created for corruption perpetrators if the sentence was still low," he said.

Thursday, May 28, the Panel of Judges at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) sentenced Saeful Bahri to a sentence of 1 year and 8 months and a fine of Rp150 million, a subsidiary of four months in prison for bribing former KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan.

"Sentencing the defendant is therefore punishable by imprisonment of 1 year and 8 months," said Chief Judge Panji Surono at the Corruption Court, Thursday, May 28.

The Panel of Judges explained that what was incriminating Saeful was that he did not help government programs in eradicating corruption and as a party cadre did not provide a good example.

As a relief, Saeful is polite in court, has a family, and has never been convicted.

Although Saeful as a bribe has been sentenced, there is still one more suspect who is still at large. He is the former PDI-P candidate Harun Masiku who ordered Saeful to bribe Wahyu.

Later, it was rumored that Aaron was dead. Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman believes Harun Masiku has passed away. However, he had no evidence for this information.

This belief emerged because MAKI often received information on the movements of fugitives, including former MA Secretary Nurhadi. However, from each of the information, no one mentioned the existence of Harun Masiku.

"Only the belief that HM is dead, only in comparison with Nurhadi (former MA Secretary) there is always new information valid every week," said Boyamin some time ago.

However, the KPK ignored this issue. Acting KPK spokesman for prosecution Ali Fikri said that the KPK had never received information about the PDIP politician's death.

"So far the KPK has not obtained valid information and evidence that the suspect HAR (Harun Masiku) has died," he said when confirmed by reporters.

He said the KPK was still searching for Harun Masiku. The KPK also coordinates with various parties to look for it. Meanwhile, cases that have been followed up will run even though Harun has not been arrested.

Meanwhile, Head of National Police Headquarters Penum Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan said his party was still looking for the fugitive. "The National Police is still trying to find Harun Masiku in order to help the KPK," he concluded.