Denies Low Demands As Reason For Juliari's 12 Years Sentence, KPK Reminds Judges Of Freedom Principles

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded the principle of freedom of judges in each trial, including in passing a verdict against the accused.

This was conveyed to answer the accusation that the former Minister of Social Affairs' low sentence, Juliari Peter Batubara, was due to the low number of demands submitted by the KPK Public Prosecutor.

"There is a principle of freedom of judges in the trial process. Judges certainly do not depend on demands, according to the demands of the prosecutor," said Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters, Tuesday, August 24.

In the prosecution, Ali explained, the prosecutor only asked for a sentence to the judge according to the findings and considerations obtained during the trial period. Thus, the matter of decisions in the trial of corruption will certainly be determined and become the right of the panel of judges.

"I think the judge is considering it. Yesterday we heard there were aggravating reasons, mitigating reasons, there were other considerations. That is the basis for the verdict to be read out," said Ali.

Furthermore, the Corruption Eradication Commission also considers that the criticisms submitted to it regarding Juliari's demands are also wrong. Ali said that the KPK prosecutor did not participate in the discussion of the charges to be filed.

"But, then our appreciation determines that all of the demands from the prosecutor are granted, both corporal punishment, replacement money, fines, to the revocation of political rights," he said.

As previously reported, the Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced Juliari to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million for being found guilty in the COVID-19 bribery case for social assistance (bansos). He was also asked to pay a replacement money of Rp. 14.59 billion and was banned from entering politics after being free for four years.

The former Minister of Social Affairs was sentenced after being proven to have received Rp32.48 billion in a bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance. In detail, he received IDR 1.28 billion from Harry van Sidabukke, IDR 1.95 billion from Ardian Iskandar M, and IDR 29.25 billion from several other COVID-19 social assistance vendors.

For his actions, Juliari was proven to have violated Article 12 letter a or Article 11 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Juncto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code, Juncto Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.