When the Judicial Institution was ‘Haunted’ by Guerrillas Intervening in Ferdy Sambo’s Verdict…

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Thursday (19/1/2023), last week, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Mahfud MD stated that he sensed an “underground movement” intervening in the verdict of the accused in the premeditated murder case, Brigadier J, Freddy Sambo.

There was a one-star police general who was said to be a guerrilla, asking the former Head of the Propam Division to be lightly punished.

Also read: The Supreme Court does not yet know that there was an underground movement that influenced Ferdy Sambo’s decision

The guerrilla movement was not only one group that requested that Sambo’s sentence be commuted, but there were also groups that hoped that Sambo would be severely punished.

“I have heard that there are movements asking for, ordering, Sambo decisions to be written in letters, there are also those who are asking for numbers,” said Mahfud.

“There are guerrillas, there are those who want Sambo to be released, there are those who want Sambo to be punished, right? But we can secure it, at the prosecutor’s office, I can assure you that the prosecutor’s office is independent,” said Mahfud.

South Jakarta District Court not aware of any “underground movement”

The South Jakarta District Court stated that they were not aware of Mahfud MD’s so-called “underground movement”.

South Jakarta District Court Public Relations official Djuyamto said that the movement was only known from the mass media, but was never detected at the South Jakarta District Court.

“We don’t know about this information, apart from the news in the press,” said Djuyamto, Sunday (22/1/2023).

Also read: Lawyers Call Guerrilla Influenced Verdict Not From Ferdy Sambo’s Party

Djuyamto refused to comment further, because according to him, the judges who were presiding over the trial of Brigadier J’s murder had to focus and concentrate.

“We only focus and concentrate on the trial process,” said Djuyamto.

Supreme Court believe that the panel of judges maintains independence

The same thing was also expressed by the Supreme Court (MA) regarding information on an underground movement called Mahfud MD.

Supreme Court spokesperson Andi Samsan admitted that he did not know what the underground movement was that wanted to influence the verdict against Ferdy Sambo.

“We don’t know if there have been any attempts or movements that want to intervene in the panel of judges in imposing a verdict on the FS case,” said Andi.

However, he ensured that the movement referred to by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs would not be able to intervene in the decision of the panel of judges led by Iman Wahyu Santosa.

Also read: Concerned about the Case of Ferdy Sambo, Former Deputy Chief of Police Oegroseno: If the subordinates are wrong, don’t kill them

He said, “regardless of whether there is such a movement or not, we believe that the judge handling the case will certainly maintain his independence so as not to be affected by the intended intervention”.

The Judicial Commission (KY) as a supervisor of ethics and behavior of judges also highlights the guerrilla issue that haunts the Sambo Cs trial.

KY spokesperson Miko Ginting said that since the beginning of the murder case involving the former Head of the Propam Division, Ferdy Sambo, there has been a huge risk in the legal process.

KY even suggested to the South Jakarta District Court that the panel of judges who tried the case be prepared for a safe house.

“Indeed, from the beginning this case was thick with risks related to disrupting the independence of judges. From the beginning the KY proposed several things, for example special safeguards for judges,” he said.

KY is also involved in monitoring the proceedings to ensure the independence of judges is not disturbed.

However, Miko believes, the “ghost” of the underground movement which was revealed by Mahfud MD must have been prepared in anticipation.

“The government, in this case at least Pak Mahfud, must have prepared several anticipatory strategies in this regard,” said Miko.

The background to this underground movement was none other than the premeditated murder case of Brigadier J with the defendants Ferdy Sambo, Putri Candrawathi, Strong Maruf, Ricky Rizal and Richard Eliezer.

The five defendants in the alleged premeditated murder case of Brigadier J have undergone trial for prosecution.

Also read: Response of former subordinates after Ferdy Sambo was sued for life

In essence, the prosecutor considered the five defendants guilty of committing the crime of murder against Yosua which was premeditated as stipulated and threatened in the indictment of Article 340 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code.

Strong Ma’ruf, became the first defendant to undergo trial on Monday (16/1/2023). Strongly charged with imprisonment for 8 years.

After Strong, it was Ricky Rizal or Bripka RR’s turn to undergo a trial for prosecution. Like Strong, former aide Ferdy Sambo was charged with 8 years in prison.

After a day or Tuesday (17/1/2023), a trial of charges against the defendant Ferdy Sambo was held. the former Kadiv Propam Polri was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Next, Ferdy Sambo’s wife, Putri Candrawathi, underwent a trial for prosecution on Wednesday (18/1/2023). The prosecutor demanded that Putri be imprisoned for 8 years.

Finally, Richard Eliezer underwent a trial on Wednesday (18/1/2023) afternoon. The Brimbob member with the rank of Bhayangkara Dua (Bharada) was charged with 12 years in prison.

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