TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Researcher for the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Kurnia Ramadhana was openly discontent by the exoneration of graft defendant and former president director of state-owned electricity firm PLN Sofyan Basir.

Sofyan was deeply incriminated in the PLTU Riau-1 graft case and his acquittal is deemed as the result of a weakened Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

“The institution has been weakened and as of now defendants of corruption cases are given leniency or in the case of Sofyan Basir, has been acquitted from the court,” said Kurnia at the ICW headquarters on Monday, November 4.

Kurnia was openly baffled by the court verdict as Sofyan’s name was often mentioned in a number of court sessions on the PLTU Riau-1 graft case. He is also positive that KPK had presented compelling evidence to the court and urges KPK prosecutors to immediately file for an appeal at the Supreme Court.

Regarding a number of cases lately, Kurnia deemed; “Structured and systematic weakening of KPK is evident today.”

Previously, the Jakarta corruption court panel of judges deemed Sofyan Basir innocent and had not been proven to assist and accommodating a meeting between House of Representatives (DPR) deputy of the energy commission, Eni Maulana Saragih in accepting graft from businessman Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo.

ROSSENO AJI