KPK Called Juliari Batubara And Edhy Prabowo Can Be Sentenced To Death

Corruption Eradication Commission Building (Photo: Iqbal / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo and former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Batubara can be sentenced to death normatively.

This refers to the Corruption Act (Tipikor) Article 2 Paragraph 2. KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Ali Fikri assessed that the application of this punishment does not only depend on this article, but all the elements in other articles must be fulfilled.

"Normatively in the Corruption Act, especially Article 2 Paragraph (2) the death penalty is clearly regulated and applicable. However, it is not only a matter of fact because of the proven elements of certain circumstances to demand the death penalty, but of course all elements of Article 2 Paragraph (1). also must be fulfilled", said Ali in a written statement to reporters, Wednesday, February 17.

The KPK understands that the public hopes that with the resolution of these two cases, including the matter of punishment for the perpetrators. Thus, in these two different cases, the suspects were charged with the alleged bribery article which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment by the Corruption Act.

"We also need to convey that all cases resulting from the arrests of the hands of the Corruption Eradication Commission begin with the application of articles related to suspected bribery," said Ali.

Later, from this development, the KPK could apply Article 2 or 3 of the Corruption Act and even the application of other statutory provisions, such as the Crime of Money Laundry (TPPU). It's just that, Ali said, sufficient preliminary evidence is still needed to apply the article.

He confirmed that the two cases were still under investigation. Also, Ali said that he would inform the public about the progress of handling this case.

"We ensure that we always inform the public about the progress regarding the settlement of the two KPK arrests," he said.

As previously reported, Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej considered that two former ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, namely the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo and former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara, deserve to be sentenced to death.

This was conveyed by him when he was a speaker at the National Seminar: Critical Analysis of the Direction of Formation and Law Enforcement in the Pandemic Period which was broadcast online on the YouTube account of the Gajah Mada University (UGM) Knowledge Channel, Tuesday, February 16.

"These two former ministers (Edhy Prabowo and Juliari Batubara, ed) committed acts of corruption which were later exposed to the Corruption Eradication Commission of Hand-catch operation (KPK OTT). For me they deserve to be prosecuted for Article 2 Paragraph 2 of the Corruption Criminal Act (Tipikor) which amounts to the death penalty", said Omar at the event.

He reasoned that both of them could be sentenced to death for engaging in corrupt practices in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and taking advantage of their positions. "So those two are burdensome and that is more than enough with Article 2 Paragraph 2 of the Corruption Act", he said.