Po Suwandi Defendant Of Sand Mining Corruption PT AMG Becomes A City Prisoner Referring To A Sick Letter Without A Health Check

The Mataram District Court (PN) panel of judges decided to transfer the detention status of the Director of PT Anugrah Mitra Graha (AMG), Po Suwandi, to city detention from being built in a detention center (rutan).

Po Suwandi is a defendant in the alleged corruption of the PT AMG iron sand mine in the Dedalpak Block, East Lombok. The case is still ongoing at the Mataram District Court.

"Yes, according to information from the panel of judges, the status of the defendant Po Suwandi is now a city prisoner, as of Friday (15 September)," said Mataram District Court spokesman Kelik Trimargo in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Monday, September 18, as reported by Antara.

Kelik said that the defendant Po Suwandi's status as a city prisoner was based on the health considerations of the panel of judges who tried the accused in a corruption case which was estimated to have cost the state Rp36 billion.

"So, indeed at the first trial, the person concerned (Po Suwandi) was present, but his condition was not healthy, then the second, third, fourth trial, was not present because he was sick and it was attached to the doctor's documents, there were city hospitals too," said Kelik.

In determining the city's detention status, Kelik said the panel of judges could only refer to the sick certificate shown by the public prosecutor during the trial process. According to him, there were no health checks from the court against the defendant Po Suwandi.

"For a medical test? We can't have a medical test, so it's enough from the doctor's letter. How come I don't believe the doctor? How come the doctor wants to lie?" said Kelik.

With these considerations, Kelik said the panel of judges at the Mataram District Court led by Isrin Surya Kurniasih issued a letter determining the transfer of detention for the defendant Po Suwandi from detention center to city.

"So, with this determination, there is no longer any reason for him (Po Suwandi) not to attend the trial, he can also seek treatment while walking (trial)," he said.

If during his tenure, Po Suwandi is revealed to be out of town without permission from the panel of judges, said Kelik, then the city's detention status can be revoked.

"With the status of this city prisoner, he (Po Suwandi) is prohibited from leaving the city. For example, he is seen outside the city without the judge's permission, he can be re-entered," said Kelik.

However, regarding the supervision of the defendant Po Suwandi as a city prisoner, Kelik admitted that the panel of judges did not have the power.

"That's where the lack is, for security officers to look after those people. The prosecutor himself is also responsible for presenting the defendant at trial later," he said.

Atas kerap tidak hadirnya terdakwa Po Suwandi menjalani sidang dugaan korupsi tambang sandan besi PT AMG, Kelik menegaskan majelis hakim punya kewenangan mengembalikan berkas perkara tersebut.

"If the prosecutor cannot present it, the file can be returned. The judge in this case has the right to return the file by stating in the determination that the prosecutor is not serious in handling the case," he said.

The defendant Po Suwandi in this case acted as Director of PT AMG based in North Jakarta.

During the investigation process, the prosecutor's office detained Po Suwandi as of the forced pick-up in mid-April 2023 in North Jakarta.

The forced pick-up was a follow-up to the appropriate summons three times, but Po Suwandi did not appear before the prosecutor's investigators.