Yogyakarta. In the period from January to mid-October 2025, Jogja Corruption Watch (JCW) observed that a majority of defendants brought before the Pengadilan Tipikor Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Corruption Crimes Court) were village-level officials—specifically heads of hamlets (lurah) and their staff (perangkat kalurahan).
Key Findings
- JCW reviewed at least 13 verdicts handed down between January and October 2025.
- Most cases were prosecuted under Articles 2 and 3 of Law No. 31/1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20/2001.
- JCW categorises verdicts into three tiers:
- Light: less than 4 years in prison
- Medium: 4 – 10 years
- Heavy: more than 10 years
- The data revealed that the average sentence remains in the “light” category, raising concerns about deterrence.
Offenders and Trends
JCW noted that the defendants most frequently involved in corruption cases were:
- Private sector workers (swasta)
- Lurah (village heads)
- Perangkat kalurahan (village administrative officials)
For example:
- On 24 March 2025, the former Lurah of Maguwoharjo, Kasidi, was sentenced to 2 years in prison with a fine of Rp 50 million.
- On 27 May 2025, the former Lurah of Sampang (Gunungkidul), Suharman, was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Implications & Challenges
The dominance of village-level officials among corruption defendants signals vulnerabilities at the grassroots level of public financial management and governance. JCW highlights that:
- The use of Article 3 (minimum penalty of 1 year) and Article 2 (minimum penalty of 4 years) often results in relatively light sentences, which may undermine the deterrent effect.
- While the prosecution effort by the Kejaksaan Tinggi DIY and the Kejaksaan Negeri Yogyakarta is commended, systemic oversight and institutional capacity at village level remain areas of concern.
Recommendations for Strengthening Anti-Corruption at the Village Level
Based on JCW’s findings, several measures are worth considering:
- Enhance training and monitoring of village administrative officials regarding financial management, procurement, and public accountability.
- Increase transparency around village budget allocations and spending, including publicly accessible reporting.
- Review the application of prosecution charges so that cases involving significant financial losses carry appropriately deterrent sentences.
- Encourage community-based monitoring of village finances to ensure public participation and early detection of misuse.
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