Edhy Prabowo's Prison Sentence Cut To 4 Years, The Reason Supreme Court Judge Edhy Has Worked Well While Being A Minister

Edhy Prabowo/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Supreme Court (MA) has circumcised the sentence of former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo from 9 years in prison to 5 years in prison in the bribery case for export licenses for fried shrimp or lobster seeds. This sentence was cut because he was considered to have done a good job during his term of office.

This decision was approved by the assembly consisting of Sofyan Sitompul, Gazalba Saleh, and Sinintha Yuliansih Sibarani on 7 March.

"The defendant Edhy Prabowo has been sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 400 million with the condition that if he is not paid, he will be replaced with a prison term of six months," the Supreme Court's decision was quoted as saying on Wednesday, March 9.

In addition, the assembly also imposed an additional penalty in the form of revocation of political rights for 2 years from the time Edhy finished serving his sentence.

In the consideration of the cassation panel, it was stated that the decision was corrected because it did not take into account the mitigating circumstances of the defendant. The situation is that Edhy has worked well during his time as Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

This is evident because Edhy has revoked the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 56/PERMEN-KP/2016 dated December 23, 2016 and replaced it with the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 12/PERMEN-KP/2020 which aims to utilize lobster seeds.

"That is, they want to empower fishermen and also cultivate them because lobster in Indonesia is very large. Furthermore, in the Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 12/PERMEN-KP/2020, exporters are required to obtain lobster clear seeds (BBL) from small fishermen who catch BBL," write down those considerations.

"So it is clear that the defendant's actions are for the welfare of the community, especially small fishermen," added the consideration of the cassation panel.

As previously reported, the DKI Jakarta High Court increased the sentence of former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo to 9 years in prison. Previously, Edhy was sentenced to 5 years in prison at the first level or at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

The PT DKI Panel of Judges weighed Edhy's verdict because he did not accept the verdict at the first instance. In the memory of Edhy's appeal, there is no new pretext that can make the sentence commuted.

In addition, his position as minister is also a burdensome factor. The judge was of the opinion that Edhy should be an example for his subordinates.

Next, the judge also required the former Gerindra Party politician to pay a replacement fee of Rp 9,687,447,219 and US$77 thousand, taking into account the money that had been returned by Edhy Prabowo.

The money must be paid by Edhy within one month after the court's decision is final and binding. If not paid, his property will be confiscated and then auctioned off as a cover for the lack of payment.

Later, if the money from the auction is still not enough to pay the replacement money, Edhy's sentence will be added for 3 years.

Furthermore, the judge also imposed an additional sentence in the form of revocation of political rights for three years. This punishment takes effect after Edhy has finished serving his prison term.