TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Setya Novanto decided not to file an appeal against the verdict of the panel of judges of Jakarta Corruption Court that sentenced him to 15 years in prison. The lawyer Firman Wijaya said his client claimed to be exhausted from the judicial process he had passed. "He is tired of the trial process," said Firman when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday, May 1.
According to Firman, Setya then sent a handwritten letter to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday, April 30 saying that he received the sentence and did not file an appeal. "Yes, he respects the verdict," said Firman.
In the letter, Setya also asked the anti-graft body to reconsider him as a Justice Collaborator and that the progress is underway.
Earlier, on March 24, 2018, the panel of judges proved Setya Novanto guilty on his involvement in the corruption case of electronic ID card or e-KTP to 15 years behind bars and mandated him to pay the fine worth Rp500 million or a substitute to three-month confinement. He is also stripped off of all political rights for 5 years. The judge gave Setya and the prosecutor a week to file an appeal.
KPK previously also stated that it will not file an appeal against the verdict considering that charges were appropriate as it was more than two-thirds of the prosecutor's demand, 16 years in prison.
"The judge has also adopted all charges issued by the prosecutors, so there is no reason to file an appeal," said KPK Deputy Chief Laode M. Syarif at his office yesterday.
M ROSSENO AJI
