KPK Ready To Fight Ex-Director Of Taspen At The Appeal Level

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is ready to fight the former President Director of PT Taspen, Antonius Kosasih, at the appeal level regarding allegations of fictitious investment corruption. The counter-memory as contemporary ammunition is being prepared.

The appeal was filed by Kosasih after being sentenced to 10 years in prison, a fine of Rp. 500 million, and being required to pay compensation. The verdict was knocked at the Jakarta Corruption Court some time ago.

"The information we received by the defendant filed an appeal. The KPK will certainly prepare a counter memorandum of appeal," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters quoted on Wednesday, October 15.

Budi said that his party also respects Kosasih's rights as a defendant in filing an appeal. However, the KPK believes that the Jakarta High Court (PT) panel of judges will support efforts to eradicate it by providing a deterrent effect for perpetrators of corruption.

"We believe that the panel of judges will fully support efforts to eradicate corruption, not only to provide a deterrent effect to the perpetrators but also how we optimize the recovery of the country's finances," he said.

The Jakarta Corruption Court Panel of Judges sentenced him to 10 years in prison in connection with the alleged fictitious investment case at PT Taspen in 2019. This case was tried by the chairman of the panel of judges Purwanto S. Abdullah with judges members Sunoto and Mulyono Dwi Purwanto.

"Kosasih has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption together as the primary indictment of the public prosecutor," said Chief Judge Purwanto Abdullah when reading the verdict of the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Monday, October 6.

The panel of judges in their decision stated that Kosasih was proven to have harmed state finances amounting to Rp1 trillion.

In addition to imprisonment, Kosasih, who in this case was declared to have committed corruption while serving as Investment Director of PT Taspen in 2019 was sentenced to a fine of Rp. 500 million. If he is unable to pay, he will be replaced with a subsidiary with imprisonment for 6 months.

Kosasih was also sentenced to an additional penalty in the form of payment of replacement money of Rp29.15 billion; 127,057 US dollars (US); 283,002 Singapore dollars; 10 thousand euros; 1,470 Thai baht; 30 British pounds; 128 thousand Japanese yen; 500 Hong Kong dollars; 1.26 million Korean won; and Rp2.87 million.

"In the event that the defendant does not have sufficient assets to pay the replacement money, he will be replaced with imprisonment for 3 years," said the presiding judge.

For his actions, Kosasih was found guilty as stated in Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

Before passing the verdict, the Panel of Judges considered the actions carried out using a complex and structured modus operandi involving various parties and used a layered transaction scheme to hide traces, as aggravating the verdict against Kosasih.

In addition, other burdensome acts considered, namely Kosasih, as Investment Director of PT Taspen at that time, should be an example in applying the principles of prudence and good corporate governance, actually abusing the authority for personal interests.

Kosasih's actions are also considered to have reduced public confidence in the management of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) pension fund and the governance of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) in general and contrary to laws and regulations in eradicating corruption.

The Panel of Judges also assessed that Kosasih's actions broadly involve ASN pension crimes that depend on Old Age Savings (THT) funds for life in old age. "The defendant also did not seek to voluntarily return state losses."