Heru Andriyanto – The Attorney General's Office, under pressure over its controversial handling of a case against taxman Gayus Tambunan, announced on Thursday that it had sanctioned 10 more officials, but the heaviest punishment was the demotion of a low-ranking prosecutor.
The most senior among the 10, AGO Deputy for General Crimes Kamal Sofyan Nasution, received a written reprimand for "approving the prosecution plan [against Gayus] without first carefully examining it," said Hamzah Tadja, AGO deputy for internal supervision, identifying him by initials.
Prosecutor Fadil Regan was demoted one rank for one year because he played an active role in influencing the indictment document, Hamzah said without specifying Fadil's post. Fadil, who had joined the team examining the case, currently serves in the AGO's general crimes unit.
"According to the facts, he has actively coordinated with the police, but unfortunately not in a positive way. Other [prosecutors] said the corruption charge should be handed to the special crimes unit, but FR said it shouldn't," Hamzah said.
The light disciplinary sanctions are in contrast to stern action by the National Police, who have a number of officers as suspects and suspended a general in connection to the case.
The police charged Gayus with money-laundering, corruption and embezzlement, but prosecutors only indicted him for embezzlement, of which he was acquitted by the Tangerang District Court in March. After fleeing to Singapore, he surrendered to police.
Other prosecutors who received written reprimands were Pohan Lashpy, director of prosecution in the unit; Dita Prawita-ningsih, assistant for general crimes in the Banten office; and Nofarida, deputy chief prosecutor in Banten.
Five more prosecutors were denied a promotion for one year, including Suyono, former chief prosecutor in Tangerang, who recently was promoted as assistant for intelligence in the South Sulawesi office; Irfan Jaya Aziz, head of the general crimes section in the Tangerang office; and Nasran Aziz, Eka Kurnia and Ika Safitri Salim, three low-ranking officials who joined the prosecution team on the Gayus case.
The AGO earlier removed prosecution head Cirus Sinaga from his post as the assistant for special crimes at the Central Java office and Poltak Manullang from his new post as chief prosecutor in Maluku Province.
The AGO has claimed it could not find proof that the prosecutors had taken money from Gayus as suggested by the Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK).
"My job is concerned mainly with internal disciplinary rules, so everything has been concluded now. If it is later found that money flowed to A or B, that will come under the criminal law domain that can be investigated by either the AGO's special crimes unit, the police or the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission]," Hamzah said. "If they are found guilty of a crime, according to the rules, they will be dismissed dishonorably."
Police have detained Gayus and reimposed corruption and money-laundering charges.