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15 years' imprisonment 'not enough' for Setya Novanto, ICW says
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Guilty: Former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto attends his e-ID graft hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Jakarta on April 24. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
G
raft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has expressed disapproval over the decision by Jakarta Corruption Court judges to sentence Tuesday graft defendant and former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto to 15 years in prison, arguing the punishment has set a bad precedent for similar cases.
"The court should have imposed a life sentence on Setya for his crime in the e-ID graft case," ICW activist Lalola Easter said in a press statement on Tuesday.
The ICW said the restitution fine that must be paid by Setya was also too low relative to the state losses caused by him.
(Read also: Setya Novanto sentenced to 15 years in prison in e-ID graft case)
The court ordered Setya to pay Rp 500 million (US$35,880) in fines and restitution amounting to the $7.3 million he obtained in the case, which the ICW said was only 22.69 percent of the total amount of state losses caused by him.
Setya was declared guilty of rigging the Rp 5.9 trillion e-ID project, which reportedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion in state losses.
The ICW said Setya deserved the maximum sentence, as he was uncooperative throughout the legal process and failed to attend several hearings.
“We are worried that this verdict will not create a deterrent effect for him, and even that it will set a bad precedent for other corruption defendants,” Lalola added. (ebf)
