Judge Eases Juliary Sentence For Insult And Blasphemy, Former KPK Leader: Who Ordered Corruption

Juliari Coal/DOC ANTARA

JAKARTA - Former Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Saut Situmorang highlighted the consideration of lightening the panel of judges in passing a verdict against former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

Saut said insults and insults from the community as mentioned by the judge were a form of action and reaction to the actions of the former PDI-P politician himself. Moreover, his corruption was related to assistance for the community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When it comes to insults (society, ed) it's dynamics, action and reaction. Who orders corruption. Let alone corrupt suspects, who arrest corruptors are called Taliban and others," said Saut to reporters, Monday, August 23.

Saut thinks this mitigating reason is a funny thing. This is because the judge should have given a heavier verdict on Juliari, who was involved in corruption related to social assistance while he was serving as Minister of Social Affairs.

"So if that is a mitigating reason, this country will be even funnier, because a minister of corruption should actually be a burden in the midst of a pandemic and the name being brushed off is clearly the COVID-19 disaster assistance fund," he said.

In the trial, the panel of judges conveyed that there were a number of considerations that eased and burdened Juliari. One of the mitigating considerations is that Juliari has suffered because of being humiliated by the community.

"The defendant has suffered enough of being reviled, cursed, humiliated by the community. The defendant has been sentenced by the community to be guilty even though legally the defendant is not necessarily guilty before a court decision has permanent legal force," the judge said in a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday. , August 23.

As previously reported, former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area. The judge also imposed a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary of 6 months in prison.

Thus, the judge's verdict is heavier than the demands. Because at the previous trial, Juliari was prosecuted by the KPK with a prison sentence of 11 years.

"The defendant was sentenced to prison for 12 years and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary of 6 months," said presiding judge Muhammad Damis in a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday, August 23.

The panel of judges stated that Juliari was legally and convincingly proven guilty of corruption. His actions violated Article 12 letter b in conjunction with Article 18 or Article 11 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.