Former Wamenaker Noel admits he failed to keep the trust

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) for the period 2024-2025 Immanuel "Noel" Ebenezer Gerungan admitted that he was not careful enough in maintaining the trust while serving as Wamenaker so that he stumbled upon the case of alleged extortion of the management of the Occupational Safety and Health Certificate (K3).

"I admit my mistake, I regret it. I regret that as a public official, I should have taken care of the trust much better, more carefully," Noel said when reading the plea or defense note at the Corruption Crime Court (Tipikor) hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court, Monday, May 25.

He realized that he should have been more vigilant about every space, relationship, communication, job environment, and circumstances, which could cause problems and hurt public trust.

Thus, Noel will not admit his mistake, belittle the legal process and blame anyone.

However, he appealed to the panel of judges to consider him as a whole human being and to see the case and his awareness.

He also conveyed that the confession was not just an empty sentence and realized that true regret did not stop at words.

"Regret must be a humbling awareness, changing the way of looking at life, and opening the way to improve ourselves," he said.

Previously, Noel was sentenced to 5 years in prison, a fine of Rp. 250 million, a 90-day prison sentence, and a replacement of Rp. 4.43 billion, a 2-year prison sentence.

In the case of alleged extortion in the management of K3 certificates in the environment of the Ministry of Manpower and Gratification in the 2024-2025 period, he was accused of extortion against applicants for K3 certification or licenses worth Rp. 6.52 billion and received gratification.

The extortion was allegedly carried out by Noel along with 10 other defendants, namely Temurila, Miki Mahfud, Fahrurozi, Hery Sutanto, Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Irvian Bobby Mahendro Putro, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, and Supriadi.

Temurila and Miki Mahfud are each sentenced to 3 years in prison; Fahrurozi 4 years and 6 months in prison; Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, and Supriadi each 5 years and 6 months in prison, Irvian Bobby Mahendro Putro 6 years in prison, and Hery Sutanto 7 years in prison.

In addition to imprisonment, the 10 defendants were also charged with a fine of Rp. 250 million, which is a substitute for imprisonment for 90 days.

Not only that, several defendants are also required to pay compensation for having enjoyed the flow of corrupt funds, namely Hery Rp4.73 billion; Subhan Rp5.8 billion; Gerry Rp13.26 billion; Bobby Rp60.32 billion; Sekarsari Rp42.67 billion; Anita Rp14.49 billion; Supriadi Rp19.81 billion; and Fahrurozi Rp233.01 million, each with a 2-year imprisonment.

It is stated that the applicants for K3 certification who were extorted by the defendants, including Fanny Fania Octapiani, Fransisca Xaveriana, Grhadini Lukitasari Tasya, Intan Fitria Permatasari, Muhammad Deny, Nicken Ayu Wulandari, Nur Aisyah Astuti, Octavia Voni Andari, Shalsabila Salu, and Sri Enggarwati.

In detail, the extortion was allegedly carried out to benefit the defendants who were tried together, consisting of Noel who benefited from Rp70 million; Fahrurozi Rp270.95 million; Hery, Gerry, and Sekarsari each Rp652.24 million; Subhan and Anitasari each Rp326.12 million; Bobby Rp978.35 million; and Supriadi Rp294.06 million.

In addition, Haiyani Rumondang also benefited by Rp381.28 million; Sunardi Manampiar Sinaga Rp288.17 million; Chairul Fadhly Harahap Rp37.94 million; Ida Rochmawati Rp652.24 million; and Fitriana Bani Gunaharti and Nila Pratiwi Ichsan each Rp326.12 million.

Meanwhile, the gratification allegedly received by Noel was in the form of money worth Rp. 3.36 billion and one unit of a blue-colored Ducati Scrambler motorcycle, from state civil servants (ASN) of the Ministry of Manpower and other private parties, while serving as the Minister of Manpower.

For his actions, Noel is threatened with a criminal penalty as provided for in Article 12 letter e or Article 12 letter b and Article 12 BjunctoPasal 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law 20 of 2001 jo. Article 20 letter c jo. Article 127 paragraph (1) of the National Criminal Code.