Awaiting Judge's Verdict For Juliari Batubara Who Had Asked To Be Free

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

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara will face a verdict in the alleged bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area. This means that the panel of judges will determine the appropriate punishment for Juliari.

"God willing (today) Monday, August 23, the agenda for the trial of defendant Juliari Batubara is the reading of the verdict by the panel of judges," said Central Jakarta District Court Public Relations Officer Bambang Nurcahyono to reporters, Sunday, August 22.

The trial will be held at 10.00 western Indonesia time and will be broadcasted online via YouTube.

Demands 11 Years in Prison

At the previous trial, the public prosecutor (JPU) decided to charge Juliari with a prison sentence of 11 years. In addition, Juliari was also charged with a fine of Rp500 million and 2 years in prison.

"The sentence is in the form of imprisonment for 11 years reduced as long as the defendant is in detention and a fine of Rp500 million, subsidiary of six months in prison," said the prosecutor.

In his lawsuit, the prosecutor also required Juliari to pay replacement money of Rp14.5 billion. Otherwise, his property will be auctioned off.

"Stipulates that the defendant pays compensation to the state in the amount of Rp14,567,450,000 if it is not replaced a month after the sentence has permanent legal force, then the property can be auctioned off, if it is not sufficient, it will be sentenced to 2 years," said the prosecutor.

With these demands, 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.

Juliari Asks to be Free

After the prosecutor read out the demands, Juliari also gave a response. Through a memorandum of defense or pledoi, Juliari asked the panel of judges to end his suffering by releasing him from all charges and charges.

“To the Honorable Panel of Judges, end our suffering by acquitting me of all charges. We pray that the kindness of the Honorable Panel of Judges will receive a worthy reward from God Almighty," said Juliari Batubara.

Juliari Batubara said the judge's decision would have a big impact on the family. Juliari also mentioned that his children still need the role of a father.

“In my mind, only the Honorable Panel of Judges can put an end to the inner and outer suffering of my family, who have suffered not only humiliation, but also blasphemy for something they do not understand. The storm of hatred and blasphemy against me and my family will end depending on the verdict of the Honorable Panel of Judges," said Juliari.

"From the bottom of my heart, I'm really sorry for causing trouble to many parties as a result of this case," he said.