Corruptor Of The COVID-19 Social Assistance Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison, Indonesia Hasn't Really Eradicated Corruption

Chairman of the Consortium for Indonesian Law Enforcement (KOPHI) Rudy Marjono and the defendant Juliari Batubara. Illustration: Bitor Ekin Putra/ VOI

JAKARTA – Juliari Batubara was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a panel of judges at the Corruption Court for the bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area. Responding to the decision, the Chairman of the Consortium for Indonesian Law Enforcement (KOPHI) Rudy Marjono, gave his appreciation to the judge. However, Rudy considered that the decision was not commensurate with what he had done.

“Raising one year higher than the prosecutor's demands, for me is not optimal. It should be a maximum punishment. Yesterday the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman said don't play around with social assistance, it was even called a death penalty", said Rudy Marjono to VOI, Monday, August 23.

In the trial, the judge said that the former Minister of Social Affairs had received punishment from the community, was reviled, cursed, and humiliated. This is the reason why the judge decided that Juliari was sentenced to 12 years in prison, paid a replacement fee of IDR 14.5 billion, a subsidiary of 2 years, and had his political rights revoked for four years.

Rudy regretted if the judge's decision eased the defendant based on these things. Rudy said it has become a risk for corruptors who are caught and then receive social sanctions from the community.

“If you look at it, all the accused of corruption must be bullied and criticized by the community. That's a consequence. But for me, the weighting is not where it should be. That's an attempt to lighten the sentence. Does not lead to more severe punishment. When it comes to moral justice, is it enough to increase one year from the initial claim? This is social assistance corruption. Where people are struggling, uh, he did that. For me, in terms of moral justice, it is lacking too”, he explained.

Juliari's legal reality is not comparable to what KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri has said several times. Firli had emphasized that corruption in the disaster management budget, including the handling of COVID-19, could be subject to the death penalty.

“There should be an agreement or commitment from law enforcement, especially for this corruption case, they must have the heart. If we really want to eradicate corruption. So do not continue because of trivial things, lowering the penalty or not maximizing the punishment. If legal justice is fulfilled then philosophical justice agrees, commitment, that the punishment for corruptors must be severe, now it will have an impact on social justice. People will not mess with corruption. Well, this is what I really don't value", he explained.

"To provide a deterrent effect is still considered half-hearted. From a moral justice perspective, there is less emphasis on providing a deterrent effect to people with corrupt souls”, concluded Rudy.