Rizky Amelia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday slammed a sentence reduction of more than two years for graft convict Anggodo Widjojo, calling it a "frightening decision."

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said the corruption watchdog had received a report that Anggodo had received a reduction of 29 months and 10 days. "If it's true, then it is very frightening," he said. "We hope this decision will be revised."

Anggodo has been held at Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Bandung since he was imprisoned in 2010 for obstruction of justice and graft. An official at the penitentiary, Ahmad Hardi, confirmed on Thursday that Anggoto was eligible for the sentence reduction.

"There's a sentence cut given for a health reason and Anggodo has a permanent illness... There are five or six other inmates who received the sentence cut for the same reason," Ahmad told Detik.com.

However, Ahmad denied the sentence reduction was excessive and dismissed suggestions bribery may have played a part. "It's not that fantastic," he said of the reduction. "It's according to the law and we didn't give it out easily and not only for Anggodo."

Sukamiskin Penitentiary has also filed a request to the KPK to grant Anggodo an early release. Ahmad said Anggodo was eligible because he had served two-thirds of his jail term. Bambang said the KPK would not grant the request.

Anggodo had refused to cooperate with the commission and attempted to obstruct justice during the investigation, he said. "Naturally, if the convict has never served as a justice collaborator for KPK, it is safe to assume we will not release them early, whoever they are," Bambang said.

Anggodo was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay a Rp 150 million ($12,500) fine in 2010 after he was found guilty of attempted bribery and obstruction of justice.

Both the KPK and Anggodo filed an appeal to challenge the verdict and in November 2010 the Jakarta High Court increased his sentence to five years.

In 2012, the KPK filed another challenge to the Supreme Court, which was successful, and the jail term was increased to 10 years. He was also ordered to pay a Rp 250 million fine.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/kpk-slams-sentence-reduction-graft-convict-anggodo-widjojo/