JAKARTA - The discourse of the Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Yasonna Laoly to release corruption convicts from prisons to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has been criticized by many parties. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered to be only an excuse so that the mission to release corruptors, including Setya Novanto, cs, can be carried out.

Why Setya Novanto? Because, based on data released by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), if Yasonna's discourse is to revise Government Regulation Number 99 of 2012 to free corruptors with one of the conditions being over 60 years old, the former Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament will be one of the 22 corruptors who will be released.

"I am trying to record corruption convicts over 60 years of age and have a high profile case," said Kurnia to reporters, Saturday, April 4.

It is known that Setya Novanto was a former chairman of the Golkar Party who was sentenced to 15 years in prison with a fine of Rp. 500 million, a subsidiary of three months in prison at Sukamiskin Prison, Bandung.

This sentence was handed down by a judge at the Corruption Court, Jakarta after he was found guilty in a corruption case in the procurement of electronic KTPs which cost the state Rp. 2.3 trillion.

Apart from Novanto, other names that could potentially be passed are lawyer OC Kaligis (77); former Minister of Religion, Suryadharma Ali (63); former Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari (70); former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Jero Wacik (70); former Justice of the Constitutional Court, Patrialis Akbar (61).

Then lawyer Fredrich Yunadi (70); former Judge Adhoc Corruption, Ramlan Comel (69); former Mayor of Bandung, Dada Rosada (72); former Governor of Riau, Zainal Rizal (62); former Governor of Papua, Barnabas Suebu (73); former Madiun Mayor, Bambang Irianto (69); former Regent of Batubara, OK Arya Zulkarnaen (63); former Mayor of Mojokerto, Masud Yunus (68).

Furthermore, the former Regent of Subang, Imas Aryumningsih (68); former Regent of South Bengkulu, Dirwan Mahmud (60); and former Mayor of Pasuruan, Setiyono (64), former member of DPR RI Budi Supriyanto (60); Amin Santono (70); and Dewi Yasin Limpo (60).

Next, apart from the political elite, there are also businessmen, namely the Operations Director of the Lippo Group, Billy Sindoro (60) and the shareholder of Blackgold Natural Resources, Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo (69).

Looking at these names, it seems natural that the former Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Bambang Widjojanto thinks this policy is actually discriminatory and elitist.

"This policy proposal is clearly very discriminatory, elitist and exclusively oligarchic and can clearly be accused of being robbed of riding the COVID-19 disaster," said Bambang in his written statement.

Corrupt convicts, said Bambang, so far have their own privileges in the form of detention booths that they occupy are not as piled as prison booths in general.

So, if the reason for the release was to maintain social distancing or physical distancing according to Bambang, it was not quite right and seemed to be riding the spread of COVID-19.

"Most of the corruption convicts, moreover, who are in the Sukamiskin Penitentiary (LP) are suspected of occupying a special cell which is sufficient to meet the requirements for social distancing and does not stack up like most prisoners of criminality cases in cells in general," he explained.

Illustration of physical distancing. (Ilham Amin / VOI)

Bambang's statement is actually no longer a conjecture. Because, some time ago, luxury prison facilities and detention cells that were occupied by individuals were proven when Setya Novanto was caught having a luxurious prison room at the Sukamiskin Class I Prison, Bandung in 2018.

In addition, the KPK has also arrested the head of the Sukamiskin Prison Wahid Husein for accepting bribes and gratuities related to granting facilities or permits to leave prison.

Reflecting on the data and facts, Bambang then questioned Yasonna's attitude. "This fact has indications to clarify the question, who are the friends of corruptors and who want to consistently fight against corrupt attitudes," he said.

Chairman of the KPK Employees Forum Yudi Purnomo also criticized the discourse on the release of corruption convicts in the midst of the disaster outbreak. Because, if you want to minimize the spread of the virus in prisons, there are many other ways that can be used.

"Starting from the arrangement of cell questions to visits so that it should not be a reason (to revise the PP)," said Yudi.

He also asked President Joko Widodo to order Yasonna not to continue his intention to make the revision. Moreover, this discourse has been proposed several times since 2016 and has often received rejection from the public.

"Do not let the COVID-19 pandemic instead become a momentum used to smooth the plan," said Yudi.


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