Judge Says Johnny Plate Asks For IDR 500 Million From BAKTI's Managing Director Every Month

The trial of the defendants Johnny G Plate, Anang Achmad Latif, and Yohan Suryanto in the case of BTS 4G Kominfo, Wednesday 8 November. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo), Johnny G Plate, is said to have been proven to have asked Achmad Anang Latif, who at that time served as President Director (Director) of the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI). This was conveyed by Chief Judge Fahzal Henri when reading the verdict for the defendant Johhny G Plate in the alleged corruption case of the 4G base transceiver station (BTS) project. "The defendant was proven to have asked the defendant Anang Achmad Latif, Director of Bakti," said Judge Fahzal during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, November 8. Still in burdensome consideration, Johnny G Plate is considered not to have helped the government's program in eradicating corruption, did not admit his guilt and did not feel guilty. While mitigating considerations, NasDem's political behavior was polite during the trial, was the head of the household, and the money received was used for social assistance. Meanwhile, Johnny G Plate asked Anang Achmad Latief for IDR 500 million every month. In total, the former Minister of Communication and Information received around IDR 10 billion. Then, Johnny also asked Anang to send some money for his benefit. Apparently, the money was used as charity, such as for flood victims in East Flores amounting to Rp200 million. Donations to the GMIT Church in NTT amounted to Rp250 million, the Arnoldus Catholic Education Foundation was Rp500 million, and to the Dioses Kupang Diocese was Rp1 billion. Johnny G Plate, found guilty in the corruption case of the 4G base transceiver station (BTS) project and supporting infrastructure 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Thus, the panel of judges sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Not only imprisonment, but Johnny G Plate was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to 6 months in prison. Then, pay a replacement money of Rp. 15.5 billion. If you do not have the ability, you will be replaced with imprisonment for 2 years.

The verdict was given because Johnny G Plate's actions were deemed to meet the elements of Article 2 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.