Bengkulu Toll Land Corruption Case, Defendant KJPP Head Submit Pledoi

The four defendants listened as the Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office read the charges. ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

JAKARTA - The defendant in the case of alleged corruption in the Bengkulu-Taba Penanjung Toll Road land acquisition, Central Bengkulu Regency, 2019-2020 period, Toto Soeharto as the head of the Public Appraisal Service Office (KJPP) in Jakarta, ensured that he would submit a defense note (pledoi).

"We will ensure that we submit a defense memorandum at the next hearing and hope that the panel of judges can consider the facts of the trial objectively before passing a verdict," said Toto Suharto's legal advisor, Lanna Fadilla Citra, when confirmed in Bengkulu City, Monday, quoted by Antara.

He stated that based on the facts of the trial, his client had carried out his duties as a public appraiser in accordance with the provisions of the legislation and did not receive any funds related to the case.

"The facts of the trial show that our client carried out his duties in accordance with the provisions. There was no flow of funds to our client," he said.

Previously, the Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office (JPU) demanded Toto Soeharto a sentence of five years in prison, a fine of Rp. 100 million, and an obligation to pay compensation of Rp. 242 million.

In addition, the money of Rp85.7 million which has been confiscated at the investigation stage is requested to be confiscated by the state and taken into account as part of the payment of compensation.

The defendant filed a plea because he considered that the demand was not in line with the facts revealed during the trial.

Lanna added that the role of the defendant as the head of KJPP Toto & Rekan was in order to support the implementation of the National Strategic Project (PSN), especially the construction of the Bengkulu-Taba Penanjung Toll Road.

"The project aims to increase connectivity, encourage economic growth, and improve the welfare of the community in the area," he said.

In the same case, the JPU also demanded the former Head of the Bengkulu Tengah Regency National Land Agency (BPN), Hazairin Masni, with a sentence of seven years in prison, a fine of Rp. 100 million, a 60-day sub-sentence, and a substitute money of Rp. 2.35 billion, a sub-sentence of two years in prison.

In addition to Hazairin, three other defendants are also charged in the case. The Head of the BPN Measurement Section in the Central Bengkulu, Hadia Seftiana, is charged with five years in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million with 60 days of imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Hartanto as the lawyer for the residents affected by land acquisition was sentenced to seven years in prison, a fine of Rp. 200 million, a 80-day imprisonment, and an obligation to pay compensation of Rp. 4.66 billion, a substitute for imprisonment.

The JPU stated that the four defendants were proven to have manipulated the administration in land acquisition in 2019-2020 which resulted in state losses estimated at IDR 7.2 billion.

"It is believed that the four defendants in the trial facts found that there was manipulation of land release administration which resulted in state losses of up to Rp7.2 billion," said Head of the Special Criminal Section of the Bengkulu Tengah District Prosecutor's Office, Rianto Ade Putra.