TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) former director, Soedjanarko, opined that the KPK prosecutor's demands for the defendant of the Covid-19 social assistance graft case, Juliari Batubara, contradicted the previous claim made by KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri.

“The basis for the sentence contradicts what was conveyed by Firli that the Covid-19 aid corruptors can be prosecuted for the death penalty,” said Soedjanarko to Tempo on Wednesday, July 28.

Firli on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, during a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Legal Commission, threatened to punish those who corrupt the Covid-19 disaster mitigation budget with a death penalty.

Soedjanarko also recalled that the KPK’s past period demanded 20 years in prison and a life sentence. “Remember this is a social assistance corruption case that causes many people to suffer,” he said.

Reviewing the recent trend of the court’s ruling, he admitted he was worried the verdict against the former minister of social affairs will not be comparable to his crime. He also mentioned other people involved in the aid graft cases that have not been named suspects.

“KPK must not hesitate about the handling of social aid cases because it has caused deep trouble for the community,” Soedjanarko underlined.

The KPK prosecutor on July 28 demanded 11 years in prison and a fine of Rp500 million or a subsidiary jail term of six months for Juliari Batubara in the Covid-19 social aid graft case. The prosecutor also demanded compensation of Rp14.5 million and revocation of political rights for 4 years after serving the sentence.

Read: KPK Demands 11 Years behind Bars for Ex-Minister Juliari Batubara

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI | ROSSENO AJI | AHMAD FAIZ