Edhy Prabowo's Prison Sentence Is Sent From Nine Years To Five Years In Memory Of Today, March 9, 2022

The defendant in the 2020 lobster seed export license bribery case, Edhy Prabowo (left), underwent a follow-up trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Tuesday (8/6/2021). (ANTARA PHOTO/Asprilla Dwi Adha/wsj)

JAKARTA Memories of today, three years ago, March 9, 2022, the Supreme Court (MA) circumcised the sentence of the former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Edhy Prabowo from nine years to five years in prison. The cassation decision was condemned by all Indonesian people.

Previously, the presence of Edhy Prabowo to replace Susi Pudjiastuti was believed to be able to bring the Ministry of KKP forward. Problems arise. Edhy's presence actually brought a lot of harm rather than benefits. Take, for example, Edhy opened the export tap for lobster seeds (fries) which were previously prohibited.

Those who excel will be defended, while those who do not excel will be replaced. That is the wise view on paper related to advancing Indonesia. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) tried other things in the second period of his power.

Instead, he appointed Edhy Prabowo as Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Edhy at that time replaced Susi Pudjiastuti. A phenomenal minister figure because he worked well. The change received protests from here and there. However, Jokowi continued to make changes.

Jokowi feels that Edhy can bring a new color to the Ministry of KKP. Edhy is also predicted to be working better than Susi Pudjiastuti. This wish is in fact a discourse. Edhy interfered a lot with Susi's era policies.

Take, for example, the ban on the export of fry abroad. Susi only wants adult lobster sales. Not fry. Edhy did the opposite. Export flooding is wide open. He believes his policies can make fishermen prosperous.

Far from being burned. Edhy's policy actually opened up a large space for corruption in granting export permits. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) smelled bad behavior. As a result, Edhy himself was hit by the KPK's Hand Catch Operation (OTT) on November 24, 2020.

The day after, Edhy was named a corruption suspect for accepting bribes regarding the export license for fry. Edhy was then sentenced to the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) to five years in prison on July 15, 2021.

Edhy was proven to have accepted bribes worth US$77 thousand and Rp24,625,587,250 from businessmen related to fry exports. Edhy also filed an appeal. The sentence was even increased to nine years on November 11, 2021.

"The defendant was sentenced to 9 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 400 million, provided that if the fine was not paid, it was replaced with imprisonment for 6 months," reads the results of the DKI Jakarta High Court as quoted on the sec.com page, November 11, 2021.

The sentence of nine years in prison is considered appropriate. The previous sentence to Edhy was deemed not to reflect a sense of justice. However, Edhy did not stop. He continued the legal process to the cassation stage. He felt a sentence of nine years was severe.

The results of the Supreme Court's decision actually hurt the hearts of the Indonesian people on March 9, 2022. Instead, the Supreme Court circumcised the sentence of the former Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries from Nine to five years in prison. The reason for the impairment was because Edhy had done well while on duty. This reason brings criticism from all Indonesian people.

"The defendant as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia has worked well and has given great hope to the community, especially for fishermen. With the aim, there is a spirit to use lobster seeds for the welfare of the community, namely to empower fishermen and also to be cultivated because lobsters in Indonesia are very large".

"In Ministerial Regulation Number 12/Permen-KP/2020, exporters are required to obtain Lobster Seeds (BBL) from small fishermen who catch BBL. Therefore, it is clear that the defendant's actions are for the welfare of the community, especially small fishermen," said the panel of judges MA as quoted on the website. detik.com, March 9, 2022.