TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the investigation on the alleged state losses from the graft case of Covid-19 social assistance was still afoot. As stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law, such acts of corruption that create state losses allow for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment up to the death penalty.

Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said the social aid corruption case involving former social affairs minister Juliari Batubara started from a sting operation. In that case, investigators had just examined issues on bribery.

“Until now, we confirm that the application of the anti-corruption law to all suspects detained by KPK in the sting operations is related to bribery. That is based on the investigation results,” said Ali in a written statement on Friday, July 30.

The KPK indicted 11 years in prison for Juliari for violating Article 12 (b) in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law. The maximum sanction in that article is life imprisonment, while the minimum sanction is 4 years behind bars. The indictment met with public criticism.

According to him, the KPK opened up opportunities to develop this bribery case to the alleged state losses. Investigators were still working on it, he added.

Ali said the KPK fully understood public expectation regarding the punishment for the Covid-19 aid graft case perpetrators. However, he underlined that the prosecution for a case must be based on facts, analysis, and legal considerations.

Read: Ex-KPK Official: Juliari Batubara's Indictment Contradicts Chief's Remark

M ROSSENO AJI