Not Accepting Being Sued For 11 Years Because Of The Social Assistance Corruption Case, Juliari Prepares Defense

KPK prisoner Juliari Batubara undergoes COVID-19 vaccination (Photo: KPK Public Relations Documentation)

JAKARTA - The defendant in the alleged bribery case for the provision of social assistance,  Juliari Peter Batubara, stated that he would file a plea for 11 years in prison from the Public Prosecutor (JPU). So, the trial will continue on Monday, August 9, next.

"I will file a defense", said Juliari, who was presented online, Wednesday, July 28.

In addition, Juliari's lawyer, Maqdir Ismail, said that he had prepared a defense. In defense, it will highlight the issue of receiving money.

"We have prepared a defense that we want to convey, especially regarding, for example, we never heard of money", he said.

In addition, Maqdir said that the demands read by the prosecutor were more based on assumptions from the statements of Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono.

"What the prosecution said was based on the assumptions of MJS and AW's statements without considering the statements of other witnesses", he said.

"In front of the trial, we heard several witnesses that the money they handed over to MJS was 7 billion or 6 billion, but this claim is as if there was Rp. 32 billion in money," continued Maqdir.

Juliari Peter Batubara was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the alleged bribery case for the procurement of social assistance for COVID-19. Juliari was also charged with a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary to 2 years in prison.

"The sentence is in the form of imprisonment for 11 years reduced while the defendant is in detention and a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary of six months in prison," said the public prosecutor (JPU) during the trial, Wednesday, July 28.

In addition, Juliari is also required to pay replacement money of IDR 14.5 billion. Otherwise, his property will be auctioned off.

With these demands and considerations, the prosecutor believes that Juliari Peter Batubara has been legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption. His actions were consistent with the first indictment.

"Declare that the defendant is proven legally and convincingly according to the law guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption as regulated and punishable by a criminal offense in Article 12 letter b Jo Article 18 or Article 11 Jo Article 18 of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code Jo Article 64 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code", said the prosecutor.