Tempo.Co, Jakarta – The Judicial Commission (KY) reacted to the acquittal of former Langkat Regent Terbit Rencana Perangin Angin by the Stabat District Court in the case of human trafficking (TPPO). The panel of judges declared that Terbit Rencana had not been proven guilty according to the prosecution's case and released him on Monday, July 8, 2024.
Mukti Fajar Nur Dewata, a member and spokesman for the Judicial Commission, said he understood the negative public reaction to the acquittal.
"The Judicial Commission cannot judge whether the decision is right or wrong. But the Judicial Commission will further investigate the decision as a starting point for alleged violations of the judge's code of ethics," Mukti said in his written statement on Wednesday, July 10.
Mukti said that throughout the trial, the North Sumatra Judicial Commission took the initiative to monitor the hearings. "The monitoring team has monitored the trial twice on aspects of the judge's behavior, the trial process, and the situation and conditions of the court to ensure that the judge is independent and impartial in making decisions without any intervention from any party."
This case of human confinement came to light after the "Plan to Fight the Wind" was involved in a corruption scandal. While searching his residence, investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission found a human cage there.
Further investigation by Komnas HAM and LPSK revealed that the victims were forced into these cages for no apparent reason, and were subjected to torture and slavery. The two institutions also found that between 2019 and 2022, people died while being held in the cage of the Regent of Langkat. There are also allegations of police and TNI involvement in this case.