Director Of Pusako Andalas, Juliari Coal's Sentence Value Is Not Comparable To The State's Losses

Juliari Coal/DOC ANTARA

JAKARTA - Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies (Pusako) Faculty of Law Andalas University Feri Amsari assessed that the 12-year sentence against former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara was not commensurate with the state losses that had been corrupted in the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) case.

"The 12-year sentence is not commensurate with the Rp32 billion financial loss that was corrupted," said Feri, quoted by Antara, Monday, August 23.

According to him, this does not include the possibility that the verdict will be brought and Juliari's side will continue it to the stage of appeal and cassation, which so far tend to favor corruptors.

He also questioned that the weighting for corruption carried out during the pandemic did not lead to harsh sanctions if Juliari was found guilty.

"If you want to deter corruptors, especially state administrators, then the criminal sanctions must be firm for 20 years or for life," said Feri.

Juliari Batubara was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus Rp500 million, a subsidiary of six months in prison for being proven to have received bribes of Rp32.48 billion from 109 companies providing social assistance for COVID-19 basic necessities in the Jabodetabek area.

The verdict was read by the chairman of the panel of judges, Muhammad Damis, at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Monday (23/8).

"The defendant was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million with the condition that if he did not pay, he was replaced with 6 months in prison," said Damis.

Not only that, Juliari was also asked to pay a replacement fee of Rp. 14,597,450,000.

This decision is more severe than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who requested that Juliari be sentenced to 11 years in prison plus a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.