Housing Project Corruption, Former Head Of Bank Jateng Blora Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison

The presiding judge Joko Saptono reads the verdict on the corruption case of Bank Jateng Blora Branch in a trial, at the Corruption Court in Semarang, Central Java, Thursday (14/7/2022). ANTARA/ICSenjaya

SEMARANG - Former Head of Bank Jateng Blora Branch Rudatin Pamungkas was sentenced to 13 years in prison in a corruption case in financing a housing project that cost the state around Rp. 115 billion in 2018 to 2019.

The sentence that was read out by the presiding judge Joko Saptono in the trial, at the Semarang Corruption Court, was heavier than the prosecutor's demand of 10 years and 6 months in prison.

In addition to the corporal punishment, the judge also imposed a fine of Rp. 650 million which if not paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment for 6 months.

Although the sentence was heavier than the prosecutor's demands, the defendant was not required to pay compensation for state losses.

"The defendant does not enjoy the results of corruption," said Joko in the trial, which was attended by the accused from Blora Prison, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 14.

According to him, the defendant was found guilty of violating Article 2 paragraph 1 of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was amended and added to by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.

In his consideration, the judge considered that the defendant had enriched two other defendants in this case, namely the Director of PT Gading Mas Properti Ubaydillah Rouf, and the Director of PT Lentera Emas Raya Teguh Kristiono.

The defendant's actions have also caused state losses. The judge considered that the defendant did not comply with the operational procedures in the application process until the disbursement of the credit which eventually failed.

On this decision, both the public prosecutor and the defendant both expressed their thoughts.