Former Deputy DPRD Of East Java Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison Plus Bayyar In Replacement Money Of IDR 39.5 Billion

The trial of the decision of the former Deputy Chairperson of the East Java DPRD, Sahat Tua Simanjuntak,/PHOTO: AM Sby-VOI

SURABAYA - Former Deputy Chairman of the East Java DPRD, Sahat Tua Simanjuntak, was sentenced to nine years in prison in connection with the corruption case of East Java grant funds.

The verdict is lighter than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), with a prison sentence of 12 years.

"The defendant Sahat Tua Simanjuntak was sentenced to nine years in prison," said the Chief Justice of the Panel of Judges, I Dewa Suardhita, while reading the verdict at the Surabaya Corruption Court (Tipikor), Tuesday, September 26.

The panel of judges stated that Sahat was proven guilty of corruption in grant funds for community groups (pokmas) in Madura. As a result of his actions, Sahat was also declared to have harmed the state by Rp39.5 billion.

Not only that, the East Java Golkar official was also subject to a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to six months in prison. Sahat is also obliged to return state money losses of Rp. 39.5 billion.

In this case, Sahat was charged with Article 12 a in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999, concerning the eradication of criminal acts of corruption.

"If the convict's property is insufficient, it will be replaced with a sentence of four years in prison," he said.

Hearing the decision, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) from the KPK accepted the decision of the panel of judges. Meanwhile, Sahat through his attorney stated that he was still thinking about it. "Think about it, Your Honor," he said.