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Jokowi, Supreme Court slammed for showing leniency to corruption convicts
A number of corruption convicts have received sentence reductions or been released in the past few months.
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Former social affairs minister Idrus Marham (left) attends a trial hearing of Golkar lawmaker Eni Saragih at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Central Jakarta. Idrus had been found guilty of accepting bribes related to a power plant project, but was recently granted a sentence reduction. (The Jakarta Post/Dhoni Setiawan)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s stance on corruption eradication has been called into question, particularly after a string of sentence remissions and clemency granted to corruption convicts, while the judicial system has also caused concern.
On Oct. 25, Jokowi issued clemency to former Riau governor Annas Maamun, who was convicted for accepting bribes of Rp 1.5 billion (US$ 107,137) for a forest conversion that caused Rp 5 billion in state losses. The clemency was made on humanitarian grounds since Annas, now 79, is considered to be too old to live in a correctional facility and he is suffering from ill health.
The recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of former social affairs minister and Golkar party politician Idrus Marham sparked public outrage as Idrus’ initial five-year sentence was reduced to two years. Idrus was found guilty of accepting Rp. 2.25 billion in bribes in return for granting the rights to develop the Riau-1 power plant.
The Supreme Court also acquitted on July 9 former chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Syafruddin Arsyad Tumenggung of corruption charges. Syafruddin was previously found guilty by the Jakarta Corruption Court of absolving the owner of Indonesia State Trading Bank (BDNI) Sjamsul Nursalim from repaying the government causing Rp. 4.58 trillion in state losses.
Gerindra Party spokesperson Habiburokhman said that granting sentence reduction and clemency was lawful.
"Prison sentences are under the court's judicial power. Other than that, a law and human rights ministerial regulation suggests leniency on humanitarian grounds for criminals aged above 70 years," he said during a discussion on discounted sentences for graft convicts on Sunday.
He also said that the President’s second term had just begun. According to him, checks and balances will be used to address the problem, and it is “unfair” to be pessimistic about the government’s commitment.
