Mahfud MD: Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials Deserve the Death Penalty
Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenkopolhukam), Mahfud MD, believes that suspected corruption involving law enforcement officials must be handled firmly, as such cases damage public trust in the rule of law.
Mahfud stated that former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah deserves the heaviest punishment if proven guilty in the case against him.
“For me, people like this deserve a special penalty, not an ordinary one. What is that special penalty? The death penalty, capital punishment,” said Mahfud, as quoted from a broadcast on his personal YouTube channel on Monday (13 July).
He explained that the death penalty for perpetrators of corruption is already regulated under Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes. However, its application can only be carried out under certain circumstances stipulated by law.
“There is indeed a provision there that corruption crimes can be punished with the death penalty. One such case is during an economic or monetary crisis,” he said.
Mahfud also considered the large amount of evidence seized and the suspect’s status as a law enforcement official to make this an extremely serious crime. According to him, if the death penalty cannot be applied, life imprisonment should be considered.
“The maximum prison sentence is life imprisonment, at the very least close to that. This kind of crime is extraordinarily evil,” said Mahfud.
Meanwhile, Acting Jampidsus Rudi Margono confirmed that the Attorney General’s Office will study all case files, items of evidence, and exhibits received from the National Police before trying the case together with the Police’s Anti-Corruption Task Force (Kortastipidkor).
“We only received the technical documents today; we will study them first, open the evidence and exhibits, and then examine the material elements together with Kortastipidkor,” said Rudi.
He emphasised that the case will be handled professionally and in close coordination with the National Police. “We remain in synergy,” he said.
Mahfud MD urged the KPK to immediately take over the handling of the suspected corruption and money laundering case involving former Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah.
Mahfud MD criticised the move by the National Police’s Anti-Corruption Task Force to hand over the continued investigation of the case to the Attorney General’s Office.
Constitutional law experts welcomed President Prabowo’s decision to transfer the coal mining, ASABRI and Krakatau Steel corruption cases from the National Police to the Attorney General’s Office for the sake of effectiveness.
He considered it necessary to appoint a definitive Jampidsus promptly to replace Febrie Adriansyah.
The transfer was accompanied by the handover of investigation administration and evidence, carried out in stages.