Proven Corrupt, Former Village Treasurer In Asahan Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison

The presiding judge of the Medan District Court Nelson Panjaitan (central) read out the verdict against the defendant Rahmat Fauzi Batubra, virtually in Medan, North Sumatra, Monday (11/9/2023). ANTARA/HO-PN Medan.

The panel of judges at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Monday sentenced the defendant Rahmat Fauzi Batubara, former Treasurer of Tanjung Island Village, Teluk Dalam District, Asahan Regency.

"In addition, the defendant was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 250 million, if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with six months in prison," said Chief Judge Nelson Panjaitan at the Medan District Court as reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 11.

The panel of judges believes that the defendant committed a criminal act Article 2 Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 has been amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the eradication of corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code, namely 2020 Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) funds amounting to IDR 117,877,672.

"The aggravating thing is that the defendant's actions are detrimental to state finances, contrary to the government's program in an effort to eradicate corruption and there is no effort to recover state financial losses," he said.

Meanwhile, according to Nelson, mitigating things for defendants have never been convicted, polite during the trial, admitting and regretting their actions and still being the responsibility of the family.

The defendant was also charged with additional punishment for paying replacement money (UP) of Rp. 117,877,672, provided that, a month after the case has permanent legal force, the convict's property will be confiscated and then auctioned off by the public prosecutor (JPU).

"If later it is also not sufficient to cover the UP, then it will be replaced with a sentence of one year and eight months in prison," he said.

After reading the verdict, the panel of judges gave the prosecutor or the defendant's legal adviser to think about it for seven days to accept or appeal the decision.