Nurdin Abdullah Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Corruption, Lawyer Says His Client Knows Nothing About Money

JAKARTA - Lawyers for the inactive South Sulawesi (Susel) Governor Nurdin Abdullah respect the decision of the Makassar Corruption Court (Tipikor) which sentenced his client to 5 years in prison. But the lawyer emphasized that Nurdin Abdullah did not know anything about the money which the panel of judges stated was proven to be bribery and gratification.

"We respect the judge's decision. What is decided may be based on the interests of the panel of judges, that what they decide is the best according to the panel of judges," said Nurdin Abdullah's lawyer, Arman Hanis to reporters, Monday, November 29.

However, in the lawyer's record, the panel of judges did not consider the statements of the other defendants, namely Edy Rahmat and Edy Sucipto, who said that Nurdin Abdullah did not know about the Rp. 2.5 billion payment.

“It means that in this case, Mr. Nurdin did not know about the Rp2.5 billion money. So, in our opinion, that's one of the facts based on the fact that the panel of judges did not see that," continued Arman.

But the lawyers, including Nurdin Abdullah, are still thinking about the judge's decision. The matter of the appeal will still be considered.

"We haven't decided on the (appeal) yet, Mr. Nurdin also said that he was thinking about it. We will consider everything and we will discuss it again with our clients with Pak Nurdin and his family," he said.

Governor of South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi) Nurdin Abdullah was sentenced to 5 years in prison plus a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to 4 months in prison. Nurdin Abdullah was proven to have accepted bribes and gratuities worth 350,000 Singapore dollars and Rp 8.087 billion.

"The trial, stated that the defendant Nurdin Abdullah was proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption together and continuing as the first and second alternative charges. Sentencing the defendant with a prison sentence of 5 years plus a fine of Rp. 500 million subsidiary to 4 months in prison," said chairman of the panel of judges Ibrahim, at the Makassar Corruption Court (Tipikor) quoted by Antara, Monday, November 29 evening.

The trial was conducted using a teleconference facility, with Nurdin Abdullah attending the trial from the KPK Building in Jakarta, while the panel of judges, the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) and several legal advisors were present at the Makassar District Court, South Sulawesi.

The verdict is lighter than the demands of the KPK prosecutor who requested that Nurdin Abdullah be sentenced to 6 years in prison plus a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.

Nurdin was found guilty of committing two charges, namely the first indictment of Article 12 letter a of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, and the second indictment of Article 12 B of Law no. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

"Stipulates that the defendant must pay compensation to the state in the amount of Rp. 2.187 billion and Singapore dollar 350 thousand no later than one month after the court's decision has permanent legal force," said the judge.

If Nurdin Abdullah does not pay the replacement money within one month after the court's decision has permanent legal force, then Nurdin's property will be confiscated by the prosecutor and auctioned off to cover the replacement money.

"In the event that the convict does not have sufficient property to pay the replacement money, he is sentenced to 3 years in prison," said the judge.