Juliari's Judgment Trial Held Tomorrow, MAKI Believes Judges Will Impose A Severe Sentence

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman believes the panel of judges will impose a severe sentence on former Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari Peter Batubara in the bribery case for the procurement of social assistance (bansos) COVID-19 in Greater Jakarta.

This was conveyed by Boyamin in response to the verdict reading session which will be held tomorrow, Monday, August 23 at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN).

"Very optimistic that (Juliari, ed) will be severely punished, even above the prosecutor's demand of 11 years," Boyamin told VOI, Sunday, August 23.

He even predicted that the judge would give the former PDI-P politician a sentence of between 15 and 20 years in prison. "Even my hope is a lifetime," said Boyamin.

His belief is based on the fact that the panel of judges who tried Juliari was the same panel of judges in the trial of the Jiwasraya and Joko Tjandra corruption cases.

According to Boyamin, at the trial, the panel of judges always gave a verdict that was heavier than the prosecutor's demands.

"Moreover, this is a social assistance case during a disaster. So I believe (the decision, ed) will be above the prosecutor's demands. Because the corruption cases that were previously (trial, ed) were not in a state of disaster," he said.

As previously reported, the Corruption Court's panel of judges will read out the verdict against Juliari tomorrow at 10.00 western Indonesia time and broadcast it on YouTube.

As for this case, the KPK Public Prosecutor demanded Juliari 11 years in prison in the alleged bribery case for the procurement of social assistance (bansos) COVID-19. This lawsuit was filed because he was proven guilty of accepting bribes of Rp32.4 billion from 10 companies providing basic food assistance.

Not only that but the former Minister of Social Affairs was also charged with a fine of Rp500 million, subsidiary to 2 years in prison. He was also required to pay compensation to the state of Rp14.5 billion as additional punishment.

If Juliari is unable to pay the replacement money, later his assets will be auctioned off to pay the replacement money. If the proceeds from the auction of his assets are insufficient, he could be sentenced to an additional two years' imprisonment.

Furthermore, the former PDI-P politician was also sentenced to an additional sentence of revocation of the right to be elected in public office for 4 years after the defendant finished serving his main sentence.

In the lawsuit, the prosecutor also considered various things. Ranging from lightening to aggravating things. For mitigating considerations, Juliari has never been convicted.

While the considerations are burdensome, Juliari is considered not to support the government's program to eliminate corruption, convoluted, and violent acts in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.