Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison, Juliari Batubara Executed To Tangerang Prison

Former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) executed former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara to the Tangerang Class I Prison. He will serve a sentence of 12 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area.

The execution was carried out by KPK Prosecutor Suryo Sularso on Wednesday, September 22 according to the Corruption Court's decision at the Central Jakarta District Court Number 29/Pid. Sus-TPK/2021/PN.JKT.PST.

"He was admitted to the Tangerang Class I Penitentiary to serve a 12-year reduced prison sentence while in detention," Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Ali Fikri told reporters, Thursday, September 23.

In addition to carrying out a corporal punishment, the KPK also imposed a fine of Rp. 500 million with the stipulation that if Juliari did not pay it, it would be replaced with imprisonment for six months.

Furthermore, Juliari must also pay an additional penalty in the form of replacement money in the amount of Rp. 14.5 billion.

"With the provision that if it is not paid within one month after the case has permanent legal force, then the property is confiscated to cover the replacement money in question," said Ali.

"If the property is not sufficient to pay the replacement money, it will be replaced with a prison sentence of two years," he added.

After being released, the former PDI-P politician must also carry out another additional crime, namely revocation of the right to be elected in public office for four years.

As previously reported, the Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced Juliari to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million for being found guilty in the COVID-19 bribery case for social assistance (bansos). He was also asked to pay a replacement fee of Rp. 14.59 billion and was banned from entering politics after being free for four years.

The former Minister of Social Affairs was sentenced after being proven to have received Rp32.48 billion in a bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance. In detail, he received IDR 1.28 billion from Harry van Sidabukke, IDR 1.95 billion from Ardian Iskandar M, and IDR 29.25 billion from several other COVID-19 social assistance vendors.

For his actions, Juliari was proven to have violated Article 12 letter a or Article 11 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Juncto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code, Juncto Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.