Reflecting On Pinangki's Verdict, MAKI Doubts Prosecutors File Cassation 'Discount' For Joko Tjandra's Sentence

Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman doubts that the public prosecutor will appeal the reduced sentence of Djoko Tjandra if he looks at the verdict against the Pinangki prosecutor.

"I respect the verdict in principle. But I have doubts whether the prosecutor will later appeal the verdict," said Boyamin in Jakarta as quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 29.

Previously, the DKI Jakarta High Court had reduced Djoko Tjandra's sentence to 3.5 years in prison in the case of giving bribes to law enforcement officers and conspiracy to commit crimes.

According to Boyamin, the reduced sentence for Djoko Tjandra is related to the decision to the Pinangki prosecutor Sirna Malasari, which reduced his sentence from 10 years to four years in prison in the same case.

"Because if the cassation and (Djoko Tjandra) are severely punished, it's a hassle for Pinangki, for example," he said.

Boyamin said that the reduced sentence for Djoko Tjandra was a kind of legal formula that existed so far.

"The Indonesian legal formula is right, so between the briber and the bribed, it is more severe for the bribed. If Pinangki is four years old, then Djoko Tjandra automatically falls under him," said Boyamin.

Boyamin stated that the problematic issue was the judge at the appellate level who determined the sentencing sentence for the Pinangki Prosecutor. Incidentally, several judges who reduced the sentence of Djoko Tjandra were the same as those who reduced the sentence of Prosecutor Pinangki, he said.

"The judge is hostage to the verdict against the Pinangki prosecutor," said Boyamin.

Djoko Tjandra was proven to have bribed Prosecutor Pinangki in the amount of US$500,000, giving bribes worth US$37 thousand and S$200,000 to Inspector General Pol. Napoleon Bonaparte and 100 thousand US dollars to Brigadier General Pol. Prasetijo Utomo.

In addition, Djoko Tjandra was also proven to have conspired with Pinangki Prosecutor, Andi Irfan Jaya, and Anita Kolopaking to administer the Supreme Court's fatwa by paying a fee of 10 million US dollars.