Former Banggai Laut Regent Wenny Bukamo Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison

JAKARTA - The former regent of Banggai Laut, Wenny Bukamo, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison. He was proven to have received bribes amounting to Rp. 2.2 billion from a number of businessmen related to work within the Banggai Laut Regency Government for FY 2020.

"The trial, stated that defendant I Wenny Bukamo together with defendant II Recky Suhartono Godiman and defendant III Hengky Thiono were proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption. Sentenced to defendant I Wenny Bukamo in the form of imprisonment for 4 years and 6 months and a fine amounting to Rp. 200 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison," said the chairman of the panel of judges, M Djamir at the Palu Corruption Court, quoted by Antara, Friday, September 3.

The panel of judges also required Wenny to pay a replacement money of Rp. 500 million with the condition that if the prosecutor did not pay his property within 1 month after the final decision was made, his property would be confiscated by the prosecutor.

"If the convict does not have sufficient property to pay the replacement money, he will be sentenced to 1 year in prison," added Djamir.

In addition, the panel of judges also decided to revoke Wenny's political rights.

"Issued additional punishment to defendant I Wenny Bukamo in the form of revocation of the right to be elected and hold public office for 2 years and 6 months after the convict finishes serving a sentence that has permanent legal force," said Judge Djamir.

The verdict is lower than the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) who demanded that Wenny Bukamo be sentenced to 5 years in prison plus a fine of Rp. 250 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison. Wenny was also asked to pay compensation of Rp500 million, subsidiary of 1 year in prison and revocation of the right to be elected and hold public office for 3 years after serving the sentence.

In addition to Wenny, the judge also sentenced two of Wenny's colleagues, namely Recky Suhartono Godiman and Hengky Thiono.

Sentenced to Defendant II Recky Suhartono Godiman in prison for 4 years and a fine of Rp. 200 million subsidiary 6 months in prison. Sentenced to Defendant III Hengky Thiono in the form of imprisonment for 2 years and 6 months and a fine of Rp. 200 million subsidiary 6 months in prison ," added judge Djamir.

The verdicts for Wenny's two colleagues are also lower than the demands of the KPK prosecutors who requested that Recky Suhartono be sentenced to 4.5 years in prison plus a fine of Rp.

According to the panel of judges, the three were proven to have committed acts as stated in the second indictment, namely from Article 11 of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

The proven indictment is also different from the demands of the KPK prosecutors who charged the three based on the first indictment, namely from article 12 letter b of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

In this case, Wenny Bukamo as the Regent of Banggai Laut, Recky Suhartono Godiman and Hengky Thino received a total of IDR 2.2 billion from Hedy Thiono, Andreas Hongkiriwang and Djufri Katili who received a project based on the "plotting" carried out by Wenny Bukamo through Recky Suhartono.