After 3 Installments, Former Minister Of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara Finally Repays Rp. 14.5 Billion Replacement Money

Defendant of social assistance corruption throughout Jabodetabek in 2020 Juliari Batubara attended a follow-up trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday April 2021. (M Adimaja-Antara )

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara has paid off the penalty of paying a replacement fee of Rp. 14.5 billion. Payment is made in three installments.

"KPK Executing Prosecutor Suryo Sularso and Andry Prihandono through the Finance Bureau have finished depositing the replacement money for convict Juliari P Barubara to the state treasury in the amount of Rp. 14.5 billion," Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Affairs Ali Fikri told reporters, Monday, August 1.

"The convict paid off the replacement money in stages in three installments," he continued.

The KPK appreciates the steps taken by the convict in the COVID-19 social assistance bribery case. Moreover, this step is expected to optimize efforts to restore assets or asset recovery that is being intensively carried out.

"KPK appreciates the convict's initiative as a form of obedience to the demands of the KPK Prosecutor's team and the decision of the corruption judge," said Ali.

Furthermore, the KPK reminded other convicts to immediately pay the replacement money. "That law enforcement on corruption is not only to provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators through imprisonment, but also how to optimize the return of state financial losses," he said.

"Therefore, the KPK also urges other corruption convicts to immediately pay replacement money according to the judge's decision so that asset recovery from the proceeds of crime can be fulfilled for development and mutual welfare," he continued.

As a reminder, this social assistance bribery case was revealed after the KPK carried out a hand arrest operation (OTT) at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). Furthermore, from the operation, former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara was named a suspect.

In this case, Juliari was sentenced to 12 years in prison for being proven to have accepted bribes related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance in the Jabodetabek area in 2020 of up to Rp. 14.7 billion.

Apart from Juliari, two of Juliari's former subordinates, namely the former Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso are also involved in this case. Adi was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in prison while Matheus was sentenced to 9 years in prison.