Legislators echo concerns over domestic violence bill<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several legislators on Wednesday backed women activists'
\ncriticism of the domestic violence bill for not setting out
\nminimum penalties for violators.<\/p>\n
Without the stipulation of minimum sentences in the bill,
\ncurrently being deliberated at the House of Representatives, it
\ncould help violators evade justice, they argued.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Mubasyir Mahfud and Jakobus Mayongpadang from the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI-P) respectively said the bill should not
\nonly set out maximum penalties.<\/p>\n
\"The absence of minimum penalties in the bill will give
\nviolators a chance to evade justice,\" Mubasyir told a hearing on
\nthe domestic violence bill at the House.<\/p>\n
The hearing was attended by State Minister for Women's
\nEmpowerment Sri Rejeki Soemaryoto and Abdul Gani Abdullah, the
\njustice and human rights ministry director of legislation.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a number of women activists questioned the absence of
\nminimum penalties in the bill, saying that the law would fail to
\nfunction as a deterrent.<\/p>\n
Of the 10 criminal charges in the bill, only one spells out
\nminimum and maximum penalties. The remaining nine only mention
\nmaximum sentences.<\/p>\n
Article 47 of the bill states that if physical or
\npsychological violence causes permanent injuries or mental
\ndisorders or causes the death of a fetus or damage to
\nreproductive organs, the perpetrators will face a penalty of
\nbetween five and 20 years in prison or a fine of between Rp 25
\nmillion and Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
Abdul Gani said that without a minimum penalty in the bill the
\njudges would have more flexibility in delivering verdicts against
\nviolators.<\/p>\n
Without a minimum sentence set out in the bill, a panel of
\njudges would have the authority to hand down an appropriate
\nsentence, he argued.<\/p>\n
\"Violators could get a three-day or one-month prison term
\nbecause the bill only mentions the maximum penalty. It depends on
\nthe judge after considering available information and evidence,\"
\nAbdul Gani said.<\/p>\n
Abdul Gani also argued that the inclusion of minimum penalties
\nin the bill would encourage conflicting couple to divorce.<\/p>\n
\"The minimum penalty will have a social impact on the
\nsustainability of marriage. It could lead to divorce (due to the
\nlong period of separation),\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-echo-concerns-over-domestic-violence-bill-1447893297",
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