Permanent Legal Force, KPK Immediately Executes Azis Syamsuddin

Azis Syamsuddin/Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that former Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, had not appealed the decision of the Jakarta Corruption Court.

Azis was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after being proven to have bribed a former KPK investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, who collaborated with an advocate, Maskur Husain. This bribery was carried out to secure his name in the alleged corruption which is being investigated by the anti-corruption commission.

"The information we have obtained is that the defendant M. Azis Syamsuddin has received the judge's decision," said Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri in a written statement, Friday, February 25.

Just like Azis, Ali said, the KPK also took the same steps. This decision was taken after the team of public prosecutors (JPU) studied the legal facts in the consideration of the panel of judges where all juridical analyzes had been considered.

"Thus, at this time the case for the defendant M. Azis Syamsuddin has obtained permanent legal force, so that the KPK execution prosecutor immediately implements the decision," he said.

The KPK hopes that after this, a copy and excerpt of the judge's decision will be sent immediately. It aims to complete the administrative requirements for execution.

"We hope that the Central Jakarta Corruption Court can immediately send a copy and excerpt of the case's decision as a condition for the administration of execution," said Ali.

As previously reported, Azis Syamsuddin was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of IDR 250 million, subsidiary to four months in prison. In addition, Azis' political rights were also revoked for four years from the time he finished serving his prison term.

He was proven to have given bribes worth IDR 3,099 billion and USD 36,000, bringing the total to around IDR 3,619 billion, to former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju and advocate Maskur Husain. The goal is to take care of the case involving him in Central Lampung.

The verdict is lower than the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) who requested that Azis be sentenced to four years and two months in prison, plus a fine of IDR 250 million subsidiary to six months in prison.