PT DKI Jakarta Strengthens Surya Darmadi's Koruptor Sentence 15 Years In Prison And Compensates IDR 42 Billion

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta High Court (PT) upheld the verdict handed down by the judges of the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) against the owner of the Darmex Group Surya Darmadi, namely 15 years in prison and paying compensation of around Rp42 trillion.

"Strengthening the Corruption Court's Decision at the Central Jakarta District Court on February 23, 2023 number 62/Pid.Sus-TPK/2022/PN Jkt Pst," said the panel of judges of PT DKI Jakarta, chaired by Mohammad Lutfi, quoted by ANTARA Wednesday, June 14.

Previously, on February 23, 2023, Chief Judge Fahzal Hendri at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) sentenced Surya Darmadi to 15 years in prison in a corruption case in an oil palm plantation business without a permit in Riau Province for the 2004-2022 period.

The panel of judges assessed that Surya was proven guilty of a criminal act as the first primary indictment of Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code and the third primary indictment of Article 3 of Law Number 8 of 2010 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of the Crime of Money Laundering.

In addition, the defendant was also required to pay compensation of the amount of money he got from the criminal act amounting to Rp2,238,274,248,234.00 and compensation for state economic losses amounting to Rp39,751,177,520.00.

"If the defendant does not pay the replacement money no later than 1 month after the decision has permanent legal force, the property can be confiscated and auctioned off or replaced with an additional 5 years in prison," said Fahzal.

Regarding the aggravating factors, among others, the panel of judges assessed that Surya's actions did not support the government's program related to eradicating corruption. Second, the defendant's actions have triggered a conflict between his company and the local community.

Meanwhile, mitigating matters include Surya being elderly, being polite at trial, carrying out corporate social responsibility such as building infrastructure, housing employees, schools, and houses of worship, having 21,000 employees, and being obedient in paying taxes.