Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison, Former Sidoarjo Regent: For God's Sake, I Have Never Asked For A Lot Of Money

Sentencing trial of former Sidoarjo Regent Saiful Ilah (AM Sby / VOI)

SIDOARJO - Former Regent of Sidoarjo, East Java, Saiful Ilah was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million, a subsidiary of 6 months in prison. The panel of judges stated that Saiful Ilah was proven to have accepted a bribe of Rp. 600 million.

"Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 200 million subsidair 6 months imprisonment, as well as compensation of Rp 250 million," said Chief Judge Tjokorda Gede Artana reading the verdict in a trial at the Corruption Court in Surabaya, Monday, October 3.

Saiful Ilah was proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption which is regulated under the criminal threat in Article 11 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

In its decision, the panel of judges considered a burdensome matter, namely Saiful Ilah did not support the government's program to eradicate corruption. Saiful Ilah was also considered to be convoluted in delivering information and not cooperative.

Meanwhile, the mitigating factor in the verdict is that Saiful Ilah is old and has contributed to building Sidoarjo. The judge's decision was lighter than the demands of the KPK prosecutor team who demanded Saiful Ilah with a sentence of 4 years in prison and a fine of Rp 200 million, a subsidiary of 6 months in prison.

Saiful Ilah, who is also a politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said the judge's decision was unfair. Saiful Ilah insisted that he never received the Rp. 600 million in cash as the prosecutor charged with the KPK.

"Wallahi, for God's sake, I never asked for a lot of money. Those are all witness testimonies, not mine. Later we will appeal," said Saiful Ilah after the trial.

"It was not me who held the meeting, so why am I being said to have asked for a lot of money, I have so much money, why do I have to ask for money," added Saiful Ilah.