Juliari Batubara Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison Case Of COVID-19 Bansos Bribery, Lawyer: Very Hard

JAKARTA - The attorney for former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara, Maqdir Ismail, said the 12-year sentence handed down by the judge was very heavy. The reason is that his client was not proven to have received bribes related to the procurement of social assistance (bansos) COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area.

"Yes, it is very difficult. Because (where, ed) is the evidence now that Mr. Ari (Juliari) received the money? There is nothing but confessions from Matheus Joko Santoso and also Adi Wahyono," Maqdir told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, August 23.

Maqdir also said that so far no evidence had been confiscated from Juliari. "There is no (evidence, ed) bribes, there are goods, not wishful thinking," said Maqdir.

According to him, the decision handed down by the Jakarta Corruption Court was unexpected because it was higher than the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU).

Maqdir considered the panel of judges as if they did not consider the facts revealed at the trial, such as Rp 8 billion from the company of the wife of Juliari's former subordinate, Matheus Joko Santoso.

"So really this decision is not based on the facts of the trial and also not based on the testimony of the witnesses," he said.

In addition, Maqdir also suspects that this decision is full of conflicts of interest. This happened because one of the judges in this trial had already decided on a similar case.

"This should not be allowed. This means that the last decision was used as a red carpet to punish Mr. Juliari and this is not true," he said.

Even though he admitted it was very difficult, Maqdir said he would still think about the follow-up to the decision that had been handed down by the panel of judges.

"Yes, we'll see (appeal or not, ed)," he said.

Previously reported, former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area. The judge also imposed a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary of 6 months in prison.

"The defendant was sentenced to prison for 12 years and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary of 6 months," said presiding judge Muhammad Damis in a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday, August 23.

The panel of judges stated that Juliari was legally and convincingly proven guilty of corruption. His actions violated Article 12 letter b in conjunction with Article 18 or Article 11 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

"Declaring that the defendant Juliari Peter Batubara is proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption together and continuing as charges to one alternative," said Damis.

Thus, the judge's verdict is heavier than the demands. Because at the previous trial, Juliari was prosecuted by the KPK with a prison sentence of 11 years.