Edhy Prabowo Sentence Circumcised MA 4 Years, KPK Claims Commitment To Eradicating Corruption

The defendant in the alleged bribery case for the 2020 lobster seed export permit, Edhy Prabowo. (Antara/M Risyal Hidayat)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reminded that efforts to eradicate corruption are not only carried out by his party but also other law enforcers.

This warning was delivered after the Supreme Court (MA) cut the sentence of former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo from nine years to five years. Edhy was convicted of accepting bribes related to the export licensing of lobster clear seeds (BBL).

"Eradication of corruption requires a strong commitment from all elements of society. Especially the commitment from law enforcement itself," said Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri in a written statement, Thursday, March 10.

Ali said corruption should be a common enemy and was considered an extraordinary crime which was handled in an extraordinary way. "One of them can certainly be through a decision that takes into account the community's sense of justice and is also able to provide a deterrent effect to prevent similar acts from happening again," he said.

Giving this deterrent effect, continued Ali, is considered important as the essence of law enforcement for criminal acts of corruption in the country. There are various ways of giving it, such as the amount of the principal or corporate criminal decision, additional punishment for replacement money, as well as the revocation of political rights.

"Therefore, the decision of the panel of judges should also consider the nature of eradicating corruption as an extraordinary crime," said Ali.

As previously reported, the Supreme Court considered that Edhy had worked well during his time as a minister, thus circumcising his sentence of four years.

In the consideration of the cassation panel, it was stated that Edhy had carried out his position well because he revoked the Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 56/PERMEN-KP/2016 dated December 23, 2016 and replaced it with the Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 12/PERMEN-KP/2020 which aims to utilization of lobster seeds.

"That is, they want to empower fishermen and also to cultivate them because lobster in Indonesia is very large. Furthermore, in the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation 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.

For information, Edhy filed an appeal after the DKI Jakarta High Court increased his sentence to nine years in prison from the five-year sentence at the first level or 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.