The Head Of The GMIM Synod Was Sentenced To One Year In Prison For Corruption In Grant Funds

MANADO - The Panel of Judges at the Manado District Court sentenced the Chairman of the Evangelical Church Synod in Minahasa (GMIM), Rev. HA alias Arina, in the case of corruption in the North Sulawesi Provincial Government (Sulut) grant fund to the GMIM Synod.

The verdict was under the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) one year and six months in prison.

"Therefore, the defendant Arina was sentenced to one year in prison, and a fine of Rp. 100 million, and paid compensation of Rp. 8.9 billion," said Chairman of the Panel of Judges. Manado Corruption, Achmad Peten Sili at the Manado District Court reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 10.

The panel of judges in their legal considerations said that the grant given to the GMIM synod was ideas and wishes from the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, and did not come from the GMIM Synod.

"That's why grants were given even though no proposals were submitted by the GMIM synod to the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, as the grant giver," said Achmad.

According to the judge, GMIM was not ready to accept the grant and caused problems like this.

The judge also ordered evidence, including money deposited with the public prosecutor, some were returned to the North Sulawesi Provincial Government Welfare Bureau, as well as to the Tomohon UKIT Faculty of Theology, and others.

Meanwhile, the defendant Rev. Arina, who was accompanied by a number of legal advisers, stated that she accepted the verdict handed down by the panel of judges.

Likewise, the public prosecutor's team led by Edwin Tumundo stated that he was still thinking about the verdict.

Previously, the defendant was involved in the alleged corruption case of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government's grant funds to Sinode GMIM after 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Apart from Rev. Arina, there were also four defendants from the ranks of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, namely AGK as the Head of the Regional Finance and Assets Agency for 2018-2019, Assistant General Administration for North Sulawesi 2020-2022 and Acting Secretary of North Sulawesi November 2021 until August 2022.

JK as the Head of the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency in 2020, FK as the Head of the Welfare Bureau of the North Sulawesi Provincial Secretariat in North Sulawesi until now, as well as the Decree as the Secretary of the Province of North Sulawesi 2022 until now,

The five suspects were charged with Articles 2 and 3 of Law (UU) number 31 of 1999 in conjunction with Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

As a result of the actions committed by the suspects, the state is suspected of having suffered a loss of Rp. 8.9 billion.