Banjarnegara Regent Inactive Budhi Sarwono Sued 12 Years In Prison

Banjarnegara Inactive Regent Budhi Sarwono is seen on a monitor screen while undergoing a hybrid trial at the Semarang Corruption Court, Friday (20/52022). ANTARA/ ICSenjaya

SEMARANG - The inactive Banjarnegara Regent Budhi Sarwono was sentenced to 12 years in prison in cases of alleged bribery and gratuities in various projects allegedly involving three of his companies from 2017 to 2018.

During the trial at the Semarang Corruption Court, Friday, May 20, Public Prosecutor Meyer Simanjuntak said that his party also demanded Budhi with a fine of Rp. 700 million, which if he did not pay, he would be replaced with imprisonment for six months.

The prosecutor also asked the judge to impose an additional sentence in the form of compensation for state losses of Rp. 26.02 billion, which if not paid 1 month after the decision has permanent legal force, it will be replaced with imprisonment for 5 years.

According to him, the defendant was proven in Article 12 letter i of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in the first indictment and Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was amended by Law Number 20 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in the second indictment.

In his judgment, the prosecutor considered that the defendant with the authority he had should have played an active role in preventing corrupt practices, but this was not done and the defendant was actually involved in perpetuating corrupt practices.

"The defendant does not admit his actions," said the prosecutor in the trial led by Chief Justice Rochmad, reported by Antara.

In the trial, which was held in a hybrid manner, the temple of Budhi Sarwono's confidant, Kedy Afandi, was tried. Prosecutors demanded Kedy with a sentence of 11 years in prison and a fine of IDR 700 million.

The judge gave the defendant and his legal advisor the opportunity to present their defense at the trial next week.

Budhi Sarwono was charged with accepting bribes of Rp. 18.7 billion and gratification of Rp. 7.5 billion from various projects that allegedly involved his three companies. These various road infrastructure projects are financed by the 2017 and 2018 APBD.