Corrupt Criminals Under Rp50 Million Removed, ICW Judges The Attorney General To Be Wrong About The Law

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher, Kurnia Ramadhana, said that the Attorney General's statement regarding the abolition of crimes for corruption perpetrators under IDR 50 million could trigger an increase in corruption cases in Indonesia.

"ICW believes that the Attorney General's statement will increase the enthusiasm of the perpetrators to carry out corrupt practices because they will not be prosecuted", said Kurnia, quoted by Antara from Jakarta, Friday.

Kurnia emphasized that until now Article 4 of the Law on the Elimination of Criminal Acts of Corruption (UU Tipikor) is still in effect. The regulation states that the return of state financial losses or the state's economy does not eliminate the punishment of criminals.

"It should be remembered that returning funds from corrupt practices can only be used as a basis for commuting demands and punishments, not even if no action is taken", he said.

Therefore, Kurnia emphasized that the Attorney General's statement regarding the elimination of criminal acts of corruption under IDR 50 million if returning state financial losses was not based on strong legal arguments.

Apart from the lack of strong legal arguments, Kurnia considered that the statement by the Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia seemed to provide a guarantee that the perpetrators of corruption with state losses of less than IDR 50 million would not undergo legal proceedings.

Kurnia's statement is a response to the statement by Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin at the Commission III Working Meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Thursday, January 27.

"Criminal acts of corruption with state financial losses of less than IDR 50 million must be resolved by way of refunding state financial losses", said Burhanuddin at a working meeting when responding to responses from several House of Representatives members.

The settlement, said Burhanuddin, aims to realize a fast, simple, and low-cost legal process.

"The inspectorate will guide the perpetrators so they don't repeat their actions", said Burhanuddin.