Remissions For Corruptor Prisoners, ICW: Signals Weak Corruption Eradication Policy

Archives of convicts of corruption case E KTP Setya Novanto (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) assesses that remissions or reduced sentences for convicts of corruption cases have a bad impact. The deterrent effect could not be felt.

This was conveyed by ICW in response to the granting of remissions to 287 convicts of corruption cases at Sukamiskin Prison, Bandung, West Java. One of the sentences that was cut was the former Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Setya Novanto, based on reports in a number of media.

Setya Novanto is a convict in a corruption case in the electronic identity card procurement project (e-KTP) which cost the state finances Rp2.3 trillion. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison since 2018.

"Giving remissions to corruption convicts has further distanced the deterrent effect for perpetrators of corruption," ICW researcher Tibiko Zabar told reporters in a written statement quoted on Tuesday, April 8.

Tibiko said the deterrent effect was not felt by corrupt convicts because the criminal penalties that should have been served were reduced. So, they can breathe fresh air faster.

"This situation is added to the fact that law enforcement is not optimal and far from fair," he said.

This injustice, continued Tibiko, was strengthened by ICW's data. Throughout 2023, the average perpetrator of corruption was only sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison and there were no additional sentences such as paying replacement money, revocation of political rights to ensnaring them with the article money laundering (TPPU).

This condition made ICW disagree if the corruptors then received remission. "This condition should not have been evenly distributed (given, ed) to the perpetrators of corruption," said Tibiko.

Moreover, corruption is an extraordinary crime and has an impact on various sectors. Thus, remissions for the perpetrators must be tightened even though PP 99 of 2001 has been revoked by the Supreme Court and the latest Correctional Law has been issued to facilitate their delivery.

"If the government wants corruption to be seriously eradicated, punishment cuts should be tightened and not generalized with other criminal crimes," he concluded.