Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison In Gratification And Extortion Cases

JAKARTA - Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a fine of Rp. 700 million, a subsidiary of six months in prison related to gratification and extortion cases.

"Declaring that the defendant Rohidin Mersyah is legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption as stated in the indictment and sentenced him to 10 years in prison," said Chief Justice of the Bengkulu District Court, Paisol, while reading the verdict in Bengkulu City, Wednesday, confiscated by Antara.

Rohidin Mersyah was also sentenced to additional penalties in the form of replacement money to the state amounting to Rp39.6 billion, US$72.15 and S$349 and if he was unable to pay, his property would be confiscated or replaced with a three-year prison sentence and his political rights revoked for two years after serving his main sentence.

The evidence confiscated by the KPK prosecutor to be auctioned off in an effort to recover state losses incurred and confiscated for the state, as well as a sentence minus the detention period that has been carried out since November 2024.

The defendant, former Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Bengkulu Province, Isnan Fajri, was sentenced to seven years in prison with a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to six months in prison.

As well as former aide to governor Evriansyah alias Anca was sentenced to five years in prison with a fine of Rp. 250 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.

For things that lighten the sentence for both of them, namely that they have never been convicted, were polite during the trial and had families, while the aggravating thing did not support the central government's program in eradicating corruption.

The verdict was given because the three defendants were legally and convincingly proven to have violated Article 12 letters B and E of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, junto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. After listening to the verdict, the defendants Rohidin Mersyah and Isnan Fajri will first answer the decision to be taken, while the defendant Evriansyah alias Anca will accept the verdict.

Previously, the Indonesian KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) demanded that former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah be sentenced to a basic sentence of eight years in prison and a fine of Rp700 million, subsidiary to six months in prison, related to cases of alleged gratification and extortion.

Rohidin was also charged with additional penalties in the form of replacement money to the state amounting to Rp39.6 billion, US$72.15 and S$349 and if he was unable to pay, his property would be confiscated or replaced with a three-year prison sentence and his political rights revoked for two years after serving his main sentence.

The defendant, former Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Bengkulu Province, Isnan Fajri, was charged with imprisonment for six years in prison with a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to six months in prison and free from substitute money. Meanwhile, the defendant, former Bengkulu Governor Evriansyah alias Anca, was charged with imprisonment for five years with a fine of Rp. 250 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.