Value Expert Azis Syamsuddin Could Be Sentenced In The Tanjungbalai Mayor-KPK Investigator Bribery Case

DOK ANTARA/ Azis Syamsuddin

JAKARTA - A criminal law expert from Trisakti University Abdul Fickar Hadjar assessed that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Azis Syamsuddin could be punished for introducing Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

"If it is true that there is a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives who is the initiator of introducing KPK investigators to the defendant, he can also be qualified as a perpetrator," Fickar told reporters, Tuesday, July 13.

He revealed that in criminal law there are categories of participating perpetrators. This is stated in Articles 55 and 56 of the Criminal Code.

Article 55 of the Criminal Code explains that participant actors are those who participate in doing so who order, give, promise something by abusing power, violence, threats or providing opportunities, facilities or information to other people who commit crimes.

Meanwhile, Article 56 of the Criminal Code states that the participating actors are those who assist at the time of the crime, provide opportunities for the means to commit the crime.

By looking at the explanations of the two articles, Fickar believes that the KPK should be able to immediately investigate the Golkar Party politician.

"The concept of perpetrators in criminal law is broad, apart from direct perpetrators, there are also parties who participate in committing criminal acts," he said.

Previously reported, Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri said that his party needed time to investigate the alleged involvement of Azis Syamsuddin in the bribery case that ensnared Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial and former KPK investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju.

This is important because in establishing a person as a suspect, sufficient evidence is needed. "We continue to work and give our time to complete the investigation," Firli told reporters, Tuesday, July 13.

Firli said that currently KPK investigators are still working to collect evidence to strengthen the involvement of other parties in the bribery case.

This is necessary because the anti-corruption commission upholds the basic duties of the KPK, starting from the public interest, legal certainty to upholding human rights.

Therefore, all evidence and information must be complete before establishing a person as a suspect. Furthermore, Firli ensured that anyone involved in this bribery case would be dealt with.

However, Firli asked the public to be patient while waiting for investigators to finish their work. "Anyone who is involved with sufficient evidence will not be indiscriminate because that is the working principle of the KPK," he said.

In a trial held at the Medan Corruption Court on Monday, July 12 yesterday, the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) exposed the role of Azis Syamsuddin. It was stated that the introduction between the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial and Stepanus Robin Pattuju involved the politician.

This introduction was carried out in October 2020 and took place at his official residence. At that time, Syahrial, who is a cadre of the Golkar Party, came to Azis, who is also a high-ranking party official, to discuss the 2021 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) but was having legal problems.

So, Azis offered to introduce Syahrial to Stepanus and agreed. Next, Azis asked the investigator to come and introduce him to the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M Syahrial.

At the meeting, the prosecutor revealed that Robin called himself a KPK investigator and showed his identification and mentioned his employee identification number (NIP).