Jero Wacik Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Corruption In Memory Of Today, February 9, 2016

The former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, is wearing an orange vest as a sign of KPK detainees. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, nine years ago, February 9, 2016, the former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Jero Wacik was sentenced to four years in prison. The verdict was followed by an additional penalty that Jero had to return more than IDR 5 billion in state money.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had been suspicious of acts of corruption at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The enforcement of the rule of authority and extortion is the main thing. ESDM officials have been arrested. Recently, the corruption has narrowed to one name: Jero Wacik.

Life as a liquid state official. That's what Jero Wacik faced. At first he was known as a loyalist of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). He often gets a high-ranking cake as minister.

He served as Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2004-2009. SBY also continued to trust him in his two powers. Jero was appointed as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. In fact, Jero's placement in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources brought problems.

Traces of corruption were smelled by the KPK. Even though it all started with the arrest of the Secretary-General of Energy and Mineral Resources, Waryono Karno. The KPK considers Jero Wacik to have committed corruption with three main modes. Jero took the remaining funds for activities in the ESDM environment.

He also collected deposits from the private sector. Something that shocked him until he held a fictitious meeting. The money generated is not only for personal gain. Jero turned out to use money for advertising for socializing the increase in fuel.

This condition is because according to him the operations of the small minister. The KPK considers Jero's actions to have cost the state Rp9.9 billion. The KPK also managed to collect evidence. Finally, Jero was named a corruption suspect on September 3, 2014.

Jero is considered to have violated Article 12 paragraph e or Article 23 of the Corruption Eradication Law, which is affiliated with Article 421 of the Criminal Code. The stipulation brought a stir. Jero himself resigned as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and his arrest went smoothly.

"After becoming a minister at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, funds are needed for a larger ministerial operation. To get a larger fund than budgeted, we are asked to do several things to people in the ministry," said Bambang Widjojanto, quoted by the BBC Indonesia website, September 3, 2014.

All Indonesian people are angry with Jero. He, who is considered to be able to increase the lives of the people in his capacity as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, was actually trapped in corruption. The people asked Jero to be punished severely. The Panel of Judges also sentenced Jero on February 9, 2016.

Jero was sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rp150 million, a subsidiary of three months in prison. Jero was proven to have forced his subordinates to collect bribes from partners and receive gratuities.

Jero was also subject to additional penalties with the obligation to pay state compensation of more than Rp. 5 billion. If this is not done then Jero's property will be confiscated to pay compensation.

"Declare that the defendant, brother Ir Jero Wacik SE, is legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption such as the indictment to one second alternative, the second alternative indictment, and the third indictment. Two sentenced him to imprisonment for 4 years, and a fine of 150 million rupiah. If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced with three months imprisonment.

"Imposing additional penalties to Ir Jero Wacik SE to pay compensation of Rp5,073,031,420, provided that if the defendant does not pay the replacement money within a month after the court has obtained a permanent power decision. So his property will be confiscated by the prosecutor and will be auctioned off to cover the replacement money." said Chief Judge Sumpeno reading the verdict at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court as quoted on the detik.com page, February 9, 2016.