Sony Sonjaya Seeks Justice Collaborator Status, Hopes to Uncover Other Actors
Sony Sonjaya, a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, has applied to become a justice collaborator (JC). Zaenur Rohman, a researcher at the Anti-Corruption Study Centre (Pukat) of Gadjah Mada University, noted that justice collaborator status cannot be granted automatically as several specific requirements must be met.
Key indicators for achieving JC status include the suspect admitting to their actions, not being the primary perpetrator of the crime, and possessing the ability to reveal the involvement of other parties with larger roles. “He must not be the main perpetrator; he must be willing to expose the roles of parties who are much higher, larger, and more powerful than himself. To uncover more powerful actors,” said Za него.
Furthermore, Rohman stated that the information held by the suspect must hold significant value for the investigation and cannot be obtained from any other source. If all conditions are met, Sony has a strong potential to obtain JC status. As a deputy head of the institution, Sony is believed to have access to various critical pieces of information regarding the management of the MBG programme.
Sony’s position allows him to be aware of various strategic processes, including the alleged involvement of certain parties in determining locations or networks related to the programme’s implementation. “In my opinion, the information held by S (Sony) is certainly very important. Why? Because as a deputy head, he holds a very decisive and significant role,” Rohman added.
However, Rohman reminded investigators that they must still test whether the information is truly exclusive and can only be obtained from Sony. If the same testimony can be obtained through other evidence or sources, granting JC status is not mandatory. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) can provide protection if the testimony genuinely assists law enforcement.
Experts also emphasised that the granting of justice collaborator status must be selective, ensuring that the regulation is not used as a tool for ‘trading’ status. Substantive requirements include a commitment to assisting law enforcement in completing investigations, prosecutions, or trials through the provision of vital information to resolve the case.