Former Head Of The BNI Mataram Branch Officially Files An Appeal, Lawyers: Rp29.95 Billion For The KUR Program Is Not Government Money

Riska Siskawati, the team of attorneys for the defendant Amiruddin showed an appeal registration letter against her client's verdict at the Mataram District Court, NTB, Wednesday (12/7/2023). (ANTARA/Dhimas BP)

The defendant Amiruddin in the corruption case in the distribution of people's business credit funds (KUR) for corn farmers in East Lombok Regency, appealed against the first instance court verdict.

"Yes, Amiruddin through his legal advisor today officially declared an appeal to the court," said Mataram District Court spokesman Kelik Trimargo in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Wednesday, July 12, as reported by Antara.

Apart from Amiruddin as the former Branch Head (Kacab) of BNI Mataram, another defendant in this case Lalu Irham Rafiuddin Anum as the Treasurer of the NTB Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) as well as the Director of CV Agro Biobriket and Briket (ABB) who is the agent who distributes KUR funds.

In the Amiruddin case, Kelik said that the public prosecutor (JPU) had also officially filed an appeal to the court.

"We received the one from the prosecutor this afternoon," he said.

Representative from the legal advisory team of the defendant Amiruddin, Riska Siskawati, after registering the statement of further legal action, said that his party was now waiting for a copy of the Corruption Court's decision at the Mataram District Court.

"Indeed, we have just received an excerpt from the verdict. However, to compile an appeal memory, we have to get a copy of the verdict. That's what we are still waiting for," said Riska.

From a separate place, Ilham, who is the head of the legal advisory team, defendant Amiruddin, explained the reason for his side to file an appeal. According to him, the judge had misunderstood the decision.

"So, the Rp29.95 billion money disbursed in the KUR program is not government money, but that's bank money. The government's money is only in the form of bank interest of 6 percent," said Ilham.

He explained that the KUR fund distribution program which runs from 2021 to 2022, the government provides interest subsidies for farmers' business loans.

"In the KUR program, the bank provides 12 percent interest to farmers' debtors. Then the interest government subsidized 6 percent. So, the government losses appeared in the calculation of 6 percent which was subsidized, not as a whole," he said.

In addition, Ilham saw a decision stating that the former head of the branch of the state-owned conventional bank in Mataram City was proven to have participated in a criminal act of corruption.

"In the decision, it clearly states that it participates. We agree with that, because credit disbursement at the bank is a collegial collective decision, meaning that those who approve the disbursement are not only leaders, but there are other officials as well," he said.

By conveying this reason, Ilham assured that his party would complete it entirely in the material memorandum of appeal.

"All of that will be included in our memorandum of appeal. We are waiting for a complete copy of the verdict first," said Ilham.

The Panel of Judges at the Mataram District Court on July 6, 2023 sentenced Amiruddin to 8 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to 4 months in prison.

The judge stated that Amiruddin's actions as head of the banking branch had been proven to have violated the primary indictment of the public prosecutor regarding Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

Regarding the replacement money from state losses worth Rp. 29.1 billion, the judge has charged the other defendants, namely Lalu Irham Rafiuddin Anum, owner of CV Agro Biobriket and Briket (ABB), agent for distributing KUR funds to farmers.