JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) considers the five-year sentence for former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo to be too light.
ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana even said that this sentence shows that the Corruption Court and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) can no longer be relied on to fight for justice.
"It really can no longer be relied on to fight for justice. Because both the KPK and the panel of judges both have the desire to ease the sentences for corruptors. As is known, the five-year prison sentence is similar to the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor," Kurnia said in her statement. told reporters quoted Friday, July 15.
He then reminded that the corrupt practices carried out by Edhy Prabowo occurred when he was carrying out his status as a public official. Thus, he should be subject to a heavier sentence in accordance with Article 52 of the Criminal Code.
"It's not enough there, these crimes are also committed in the midst of people who are struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
So, Kurnia judged, Edhy deserved to be sentenced with a maximum sentence. Not only that, he considers the additional criminal law of revocation of political rights should be aggravated for five years.
"Edhy really deserves to be given a maximum sentence, at least 20 years in prison," he said.
Moreover, this anti-corruption activist believes that the verdict handed down is wrong because the judges confirmed the receipt of Rp. 24.6 billion plus US$77 thousand. "However, why is the verdict so light? Article 12 letter a of the Corruption Eradication Law states that the minimum prison sentence for corruptors is 4 years in prison," said Kurnia.
According to him, the decision of one year above the minimum snare will only be given to Edhy if the former Gerindra Party politician only receives tens of millions of rupiah from bribe givers and holds the status of a justice collaborator.
But that didn't happen because Edhy actually carried out rasuah practices up to tens of billions of rupiah and has never admitted his actions until now.
Furthermore, Kurnia said, the sentence of five years in prison also added to the gloominess of the judiciary in trying corruption cases. Based on ICW's monitoring, 2020 has clearly illustrated that the panel of judges often does not show siding with the corruption eradication sector.
"Imagine, the average sentence for corruptors is only 3 years and 1 month in prison. So, what else is expected from law enforcement that is already chaotic?," he said.
Previously reported, Edhy Prabowo was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the bribery case for the export license for lobster seeds or fry. In addition, he was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 400 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.
The panel of judges also decided an additional sentence for Edhy Prabowo with the obligation to pay compensation for the corruption crimes he committed amounting to Rp9.68 billion and US$77 thousand. If the replacement money is not paid, Edhy Prabowo will have to serve an additional 2 years in prison
In addition, the panel of judges in their decision also revoked Edhy Prabowo's right to be elected in public (political) positions for three years.
In this case, Edhy Prabowo violated Article 12 letter a of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
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