Without JC Status, Sony Sanjaya Can Still Receive Leniency by Exposing MBG Corruption Network, Says Pukat UGM

Pusat Kajian Antikorupsi (Pukat) researcher from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Zaenur Rohman, has stated that the rejection of justice collaborator (JC) status for Sony Sanjaya, a suspect in the alleged corruption of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, does not necessarily close the door to a more lenient sentence. According to him, the main key lies in the suspect’s cooperative attitude in revealing all parties involved in the case. Zaenur encouraged Sony and his legal counsel to remain cooperative with investigators and to be bold in disclosing all known information, including other parties suspected of involvement. “I want to give advice to Sony Sanjaya and his legal counsel, even though his JC status was rejected, he must remain cooperative with investigators. Secondly, reveal all the names,” Zaenur said when contacted by Media Indonesia on Tuesday (23/6). He explained that such a cooperative attitude is not only important during the investigation stage but will also be considered by the panel of judges when delivering a verdict in court. According to him, the defendant’s openness in revealing the roles of other parties can be a mitigating factor. “The cooperative attitude in revealing all those names will be taken into account by the panel of judges. The hope is that the panel of judges can deliver a lighter sentence because Sony has contributed to uncovering the involvement of all parties, even those that the prosecutor’s office may not have uncovered yet,” he said. Zaenur also stressed that the disclosure of facts does not have to stop at the investigation stage. He noted that the courtroom can also be used to reveal other parties, including if the public prosecutor does not actively pursue the names mentioned by the defendant. “Sony can also reveal it in court if the prosecutor remains silent and does not discuss those 41 names,” Zaenur stated. He added that the panel of judges has the authority to follow up on information that emerges during the trial by instructing the public prosecutor to conduct further investigation into the mentioned parties. Thus, Zaenur concluded, even though justice collaborator status was not granted, there is still legal room for the defendant to receive mitigating considerations as long as he is willing to cooperate and help uncover the case transparently. “So there is still another way, not through JC but by revealing everything in court to get a lighter sentence. Secondly, by admitting guilt and being willing to uncover everything to make all the issues clear,” he concluded. Zaenur emphasised that the full authority to assess JC status lies with law enforcement, and the validity of such a decision can only be tested through the evidentiary process in court.