Prosecutor Demands Former SYL's Subordinate Muhammad Hatta 6 Years In Prison

JAKARTA - Former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Muhammad Hatta, was found guilty in the alleged extortion and gratification case within the Ministry of Agriculture. The Public Prosecutor (JPU) charged him with imprisonment for 6 years.

"The defendant Muhammad Hatta has been sentenced to 6 years in prison, reduced while the defendant is in detention and criminally," said the prosecutor during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Friday, June 28.

Not only imprisonment, but the defendant Hatta was also charged with a fine of Rp. 250 million, subsidiary to 3 months in prison.

The prosecutor filed the lawsuit based on burdensome and mitigating considerations. For burdensome matters, one of them Hatta is considered to have damaged public trust in government institutions.

"The aggravating thing is that the defendant undermines public trust in government state institutions, the defendant does not support the government's program in eradicating corruption," he said.

Meanwhile, for mitigating considerations, Muhammad Hatta was considered cooperative during the trial.

"The defendant did not materially enjoy the results of his actions," said the prosecutor.

In this case, Muhammad Hatta's actions were deemed to have fulfilled Article 12 letter e in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.