Corruption Eradication Message

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Chairman of the Panel of Judges Rosmina (center), reads out the verdict for the defendant Benny Tjokrosaputro, the President Director of PT Hanson Internasional in the PT Jiwasraya (Persero) insurance case at the Corruption Crime Court (Tipikor) Jakarta, on Monday (26/10/2020).

Six defendants in the corruption case involving PT Asuransi Jiwasraya have been sentenced to life imprisonment. They have also been fined Rp 16.8 trillion.

As previously reported, the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (26/10/2020) found Benny Tjokrosaputro, president director of PT Hanson International, and Heru Hidayat, the president commissioner of PT Trada Alam Minera, guilty of corruption and money-laundering in a corruption case pertaining to Jiwasraya. Benny and Heru received life sentences, as initially demanded by prosecutors. They were also ordered by the judges to pay Rp 16.8 trillion in restitution, the largest fine that has ever been handed down in a corruption case (Kompas, 27/10/2020).

Read also: Largest Payback in Corruption Case

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) recorded that the corruption case surrounding Jiwasraya had cost the government Rp 16.81 trillion in state losses. Benny and Heru received severe punishments as the pair had used their expertise to destroy the capital market and the insurance sector in the country. The panel of judges found nothing to mitigate Benny and Heru’s sentences.

The four were former Jiwasraya finance director Hary Prasetyo, former president director Hendrisman Rahim, former finance and investment division head Syahmirwan and PT Maxima Integra director Joko Hartono Tirto.

Previously, four other defendants in the same corruption case had been sentenced to life in prison. The four were former Jiwasraya finance director Hary Prasetyo, former president director Hendrisman Rahim, former finance and investment division head Syahmirwan and PT Maxima Integra director Joko Hartono Tirto. The sentences that the panel of judges gave to Hendrisman and Syahmirwan were heavier than what prosecutors had demanded, namely a 20-year sentence and 18-year sentence, respectively (Kompas, 13/10/2020).

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The Jakarta Corruption Court held a virtual trial with the agenda of reading the verdict for the defendant Benny Tjokrosaputro, the President Director of PT Hanson International in the PT Jiwasraya (Persero) insurance case, on Monday (26/10/2020).

Another defendant in the corruption case, Piter Rasiman, is still awaiting sentencing. Meanwhile, other corruption cases are currently being processed by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police that have garnered public attention. These cases must be concluded as well.

The sentences issued by the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court in the Jiwasraya corruption and money-laundering cases have satisfied the public, given that corruption eradication efforts in the country had gradually dried up in the past months. The level of public trust in the KPK, for instance, was at its lowest back in June, as reported by Litbang Kompas.

Read also: Life Imprisonment for Former Jiwasraya Directors

The ruling also offers the AGO a lesson to be more courageous in prosecuting. The charges must be proportionate to the crimes that have been committed by the defendants and proven at trial, especially if the crimes tarnish the country’s reputation. The 2001 Corruption Law permits graft convicts to receive the death sentence if they are repeat offenders or if they engage in corruption when the country is in crisis or in a state of disaster.

Read also: Jiwasraya Case Becomes Political Issue

The message of the sentencing is clear: Indonesia still regards corruption as an extraordinary crime. Corruption eradication must be reinforced through, among other means, imprisonment and hefty fines, commensurate with the actions of the accused. This is in line with Supreme Court Regulation No. 1/2020.