East Lombok Labuh Pool Project Corruption Defendant Sentenced Free, Prosecutors Will File Cassation

MATARAM - The public prosecutor said he was ready to file an appeal after Nugroho, the official commitment maker (PPK) for the structuring and dredging project of the Labuhan Haji Pier, East Lombok Regency, NTB, was acquitted.

"We are ready for an appeal", said the Head of the Special Crime Section of the East Lombok State Prosecutor, Isa Anshori, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 28.

Isa confirmed that his party had not submitted the statement to the court. This step will be implemented after the verdict is received.

"Let us first study what the judge's considerations were in passing the acquittal", he said.

The public prosecutor still has a deadline of 14 days since the verdict was read on Wednesday, September 21.

"Probably on Friday, September 30 or at the latest on Monday, October 3 the letter stating that we will file an appeal to the court", he said.

The judges of the Mataram Corruption District Court sentenced Nugroho to acquittal by stating that he was not proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption.

The panel of judges chaired by Kadek Dedy Arcana in the decision ordered the public prosecutor to acquit the defendant of all charges, both primary and subsidiary.

In addition, the judge to Bank BNI Main Branch Bandung as the guarantor of the project down payment in 2016 ordered to disburse the project down payment guarantee amounting to IDR 6.7 billion. Then it was handed over to the regional treasury of East Lombok Regency.

This value corresponds to the disbursement of 20 percent of the project budget, which the judge assessed as compensation for state losses.

The judge also ordered the public prosecutor to release Nugroho from detention and restore his social status and all the rights of the accused in a position of dignity and worth.

Regarding the judge's order to release Nugroho from detention, Isa assured that his party had carried out this matter.

"The day after the verdict was read out, we released Nugroho from Kuripan Prison", he said.

Previously, the public prosecutor demanded the panel of judges to sentence Nugroho to 8 years in prison and a fine of IDR 200 million, subsidiary to 4 months in prison.

The prosecution stated that Nugroho's actions were proven to have violated Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 54 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code is by the primary indictment.