Although The Supreme Court Rejects Cassation, The Corruption Eradication Commission Remains Convinced That Sofyan Basir Is Involved In The Riau-1 PLTU Bribery Case

Former Director of PT PLN (Persero) Sofyan Basyir (Wardhani Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) believes that former President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Sofyan Basir was involved in a bribery case related to the Riau-1 PLTU project even though his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Acting KPK spokesman for prosecution Ali Fikri said the strong belief of this institution was supported by the presence of sufficient initial evidence in this case which later dragged a number of names of politicians.

"The KPK, from the start of the investigation, investigation, to prosecution process, believes that the evidence in this case is strong. We can see the legal facts from the trial of the defendants Eni Maulani Saragih, Johanes Budi Sutrisno Kotjo, and Idrus Marham who have all been proven guilty and have permanent legal force, "Ali said in a written statement, Wednesday, June 17.

He also said that the anti-graft agency's beliefs regarding Sofyan's involvement also had sufficient preliminary evidence and deepened in the investigation process. "The entire series of actions of the defendant Sofyan Basir has been clearly described in the KPK prosecutor's indictment," he said.

Although he believes that the former President Director of PT PLN (Persero) was involved in the bribery case, the KPK still respects the Supreme Court's decision and the independence of the judiciary. However, the KPK has not yet received the complete verdict. So, they do not know the next steps for the decision.

"We will study the considerations of the cassation decision so that it can be further analyzed what the next legal steps can be taken by the KPK," said Ali.

Previously, the Supreme Court (MA) rejected the appeal filed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) against the former President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Sofyan Basir.

The Supreme Court's Panel of Cassation Judges assessed that the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) decision was not wrong in applying the verdict related to the Sofyan Basir case in the Riau-1 PLTU bribery case.

"The public prosecutor's appeal was rejected because according to the Panel of Cassation Judges, the verdict of the Central Jakarta Corruption Court was not wrong in applying the law," MA spokesman Andi Samsan Nganro told reporters, Wednesday, June 17.

Sofyan Basir's lawyer, Soesilo Ariwibowo, said the decision was correct. Because, from the beginning there was no involvement of his client in the bribery case.

"I think the verdict was correct because from the start there was no trace or rea of Pak SB to assist in corruption," said Soesilo when contacted.

These facts, he continued, can be seen again in the consideration of the Corruption Court panel's decision. Due to the release decision, Sofyan Basir hopes that the KPK can immediately unblock the account.

"We are just waiting for the excerpt of the decision to request the execution of blocking of several accounts which are still frozen," he said.

It is known, the Panel of Judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court has handed down a acquittal sentence against Sofyan Basir in the case of alleged bribery assistance related to PLTU Riau-1.

In this decision, the panel of judges considered that Sofyan Basir did not know about the bribery that occurred between former Deputy Chairman of Commission VII DR RI Eni Maulani Saragih and former Secretary General of the Golkar Party Idrus Marhan and shareholders of Blackgold Natural Resources Ltd. Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo to speed up the agreement process related to the project.

On this decision, the KPK then submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court on Thursday, June 28, 2019.

In the cassation memory, the KPK prosecutor stated his belief in the criminal act committed by the former President Director of PT PLN (Persero). The anti-corruption agency also stated that the Corruption Court decision cannot be categorized as a pure acquittal.

In addition, the KPK prosecutor also explained a number of facts from the trial that strengthened Sofyan's role and involvement in the case. The KPK also includes a recording of the trial to convince the Supreme Court's Cassation Judges.

The KPK believes that Sofyan Basir is aware of the bribery committed by Eni Saragih, Idrus Marham, and Kotjo regarding the project.