TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher, Kurnia Ramadhana, on Sunday announced that lighter punishments have been handed to a higher number of defendants in cases related to corruption in the first semester of 2020 from January to June.

The anti-corruption watchdog claims the increase had been significant. “ICW’s monitoring found that 766 defendants have been given light sentences,” said Kurnia in the press conference held on Sunday, October 11.

There had been only 766 defendants that were handed sentencing under 4 years of imprisonment In comparison to the first semester of 2019 the ICW researcher explained, which consist of village officials, provincial administrators, the private sector, regional and national-level legislators, and from state-owned enterprises.

As for medium-scale sentences, which means below 10 years imprisonment, the ICW said they were given to 206 defendants compared to the same period last year that saw medium sentences handed to 71 defendants. Which is an increase similar to severe sentences above 10 years imprisonment which was handed to 10 defendants compared to 2020’s two.

Meanwhile, defendants who were sentenced free in 2020 were 55 while last year only saw 17.

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