If anybody was wondering why dangdut singer Saipul Jamil only received a three-year sentence for molesting a 17 year-old fan, this might be the explanation.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) yesterday arrested seven people in connection to corruption dealings in the North Jakarta District Court, the same court that conducted Saipul Jamil’s hearings. Today, the KPK revealed that four of those arrested were involved in a bribery scheme to lower Saipul Jamil’s sentence on Tuesday.
“We have named four [of those arrested] as suspects, [they are] BN and K (Saipul Jamil’s lawyers), SH (Saipul Jamil’s brother), and R (a court registrar),” said KPK Deputy Chief Basaria Panjaitan, as quoted by Warta Kota today.
Basaria said KPK investigators arrested Saipul Jamil’s lawyer, BN, when they handed Rp 250 million over to R, the court registrar, in a suspected case of bribery. The KPK then arrested Saipul Jamil’s brother, SH, and another one of his lawyers, K, who were suspected of being involved in the scheme.
“From what we have gathered so far, the money is from SJ (Saipul Jamil). He sold his house [to raise the money] but we have yet to develop the investigation further,” Basaria said.
It’s unclear if the North Jakarta District Court judges will also be implicated in the bribery considering one of their registrars, whose job is to essentially to assist judges, was arrested.
Bravo to the KPK for uncovering yet another a shady corruption deal that shows just how flawed our justice system is.
