Judge Freed Sentence 5 Defendant Of Corruption Of The North Aceh Ocean Ocean Ocean Monument

The defendant in the alleged corruption crime in the construction of the Samudra Pasai Monument raised both hands after acquittal at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court in Banda Aceh, Tuesday (14/11/2023). ANTARA/M. Haris SA

The panel of judges at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court sentenced five corruption defendants to the construction of the Samudera Pasai Monument in North Aceh Regency, Aceh.

The verdict or acquittal was read out by the panel of judges chaired by R. Hendral and accompanied by Sadri and R. Deddy respectively as member judges at the trial at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 14.

The five defendants were Fatullah Badli, Nurliana, Poniem, T.Reza Felda, and T Maimun. The five defendants attended the trial accompanied by a team of legal advisors, while the public prosecutor who was present was Muchamad Arifin and his friends.

"Declaring that the defendants are not legally and convincingly proven guilty as charged by the public prosecutor. Free the defendants from all charges by the public prosecutor," said Chief Justice Hendral.

The panel of judges stated that the facts at the trial did not find anything that proved the defendants had deviated from the construction of the Samudera Pasai Monument in North Aceh Regency.

The defendants did the work in accordance with their contracts and authorities. There are also no additional or reduced work payments.

Regarding the lack of work volume, the panel of judges stated that this was adjusted to the availability of the budget.

Regarding the loss of Rp44.77 billion as charged by the public prosecutor, the panel of judges stated that the loss could not be proven at trial. The expert at the trial stated that he was not competent in determining the total loss.

Experts also cannot state whether the monument failed the building or not. The monument cannot be used because it has not been completed.

"Until now, there has been no handover of the monument to the North Aceh Regency Government from the central government," added the panel of judges.

After reading the verdict, the panel of judges gave time to the defendants and the prosecutor's office to give a response, whether to accept or reject the decision.

At the previous trial, the public prosecutor charged the defendants Fathullah Badli, Nurliana, and T.Reza Felda with a sentence of 12 years in prison each. Meanwhile, the defendant T. Maisemund demanded a sentence of 16 years in prison and the defendant Poniem with a sentence of 10 years and six months in prison.

The prosecutor in his indictment stated that the construction of the Samudera Pasai Monument was financed by the State Budget for the 2012 to 2017 fiscal years with a total budget of IDR 44.77 billion.

Based on the facts of the trial as well as statements from witnesses and experts, the construction of the monument did not meet specifications. As a result, the monument building cannot be used by the community.

Based on expert testimony at the trial, said the prosecutor, the monument building could not be utilized due to construction errors. Buildings are made using government budgets, but cannot be utilized, meaning they are detrimental to state finances.

"The state losses incurred from the corruption crime in the construction of the Samudera Pasai Monument reached Rp44.7 billion. This loss is because the building cannot be used," said the Public Prosecutor.