3 Defendants Of COVID-19 PPE Corruption In 2020 Sentenced To Different, Weightest 11.6 Years In Prison

A total of three defendants in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) at the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) in 2020 were sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years to 11 years and 6 months.

The three defendants are said to be the former Head of the Health Crisis Center of the Ministry of Health Budi Badya who was sentenced to 3 years in prison, President Director of PT Permana Putra Mandiri (PPM) Ahmad Taufik for 11 years in prison, and President Director of PT Energi Kita Indonesia (EKI) Satrio Wibowo for 11 years and 6 months in prison.

"Declaring that the defendants have been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption together," said Chief Judge Syofia Marliyanti in a trial reading the verdict of the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor).

As a result of the corruption of the defendants, the Panel of Judges stated that the state suffered a loss of Rp319.69 billion.

Dari kerugian negara karena korupsi tersebut, Ahmad dan Satrio dinyatakan menerima masing-masing uang senilai Rp224,19 miliar dan Rp59,98 miliar, sedangkan Budi tidak menerima aliran uang korupsi meski terlibat dalam kasus itu.

In addition to imprisonment, the presiding judge said that the three were also subject to a fine. Budi is subject to a fine of Rp. 100 million, provided that if the fine is not paid, it will be replaced (subsider) with imprisonment for 2 months.

Then, Ahmad and Satrio were sentenced to a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to 4 months in prison.

Specifically for Ahmad and Satrio for having received a flow of corruption money, the presiding judge stated that both of them were also subject to additional penalties in the form of paying compensation of Rp. 224.18 billion, subsidiary to 4 years in prison and Rp. 59.98 billion, subsidiary to 3 years in prison.

Thus, Budi was proven to have violated Article 3 in conjunction with Article 16 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code, as the second alternative indictment.

Meanwhile, Ahmad and Satrio were proven to have violated Article 2 paragraph (1) jo. Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code, as stated in the first alternative indictment.

Before passing the verdict, the Panel of Judges considered several aggravating and mitigating factors. The aggravating things considered, namely the actions of the three defendants were not pleased with the government's efforts to eradicate corruption and reduce public confidence in the Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, mitigating factors considered by the Panel of Judges were that the defendants were polite at the trial and had responsibility for their families.

"Based on the aggravating and mitigating factors that exist in the defendants, the Assembly is of the opinion that the punishment or punishment imposed on the defendants may have fulfilled the sense of justice," said the presiding judge.

The decision of the Panel of Judges is lighter than the demands of the previous prosecutor. In the prosecution, Budi was asked to be sentenced to 4 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million, subsidiary to imprisonment for 3 months.

Meanwhile, Ahmad was demanded to be sentenced to 14 years and 4 months in prison, while Satrio was sentenced to 14 years and 10 months in prison. The two defendants were also charged with a fine of Rp. 1 billion each, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.

Not only that, both Ahmad and Satrio, are also required to be sentenced to an additional penalty in the form of paying compensation of Rp. 224.18 billion, subsidiary to 6 years in prison and Rp. 59.98 billion, subsidiary to 4 years in prison.

In the corruption case in the procurement of the COVID-19 PPE, three defendants allegedly cost the state around Rp319.69 billion. State losses occurred as a result of the actions of the defendants who enriched Satrio amounting to Rp59.98 billion, Ahmad Rp224.19 billion, PT Yoon Shin Jaya Rp25.25 billion, and PT GA Indonesia Rp14.62 billion.

Budi, Ahmad, and Satrio were charged with participating in negotiations on the price of PPE totaling 170 thousand pairs without using an order, negotiating prices and signing PPE orders of five million pairs, and receiving money loans from BNPB to PT PPM and PT EKI amounting to Rp10 billion to pay 170 thousand pairs of PPE without any order letter and payment support documents.

Then, the three defendants were also suspected of participating in receiving payments for 1.01 million pairs of BOHO brand PPE worth Rp. 711.28 billion for PT PPM and PT EKI, even though PT EKI did not have qualifications as providers of similar goods/services in government agencies and did not have a license for distribution of medical devices (IPAK).

In addition, PT EKI and PT PPM are also suspected of not preparing and submitting proof of supporting price reasonableness to PPK so that it violates the principle of procurement of government goods/services in handling emergencies, namely effective, transparent, and accountable.