KPK Prosecutor Demands Ex-Regent Of Tabanan 4 Years In Prison

The defendant, the former regent of Tabanan, Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti, talks with his team of legal advisers at the Corruption Court in Denpasar, Bali, Thursday (11/8/2022). ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu

JAKARTA - The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has demanded that former Tabanan Regent Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti be sentenced to four years in prison at the Corruption Court, Denpasar, Bali.

"The sentence against the defendant Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti in the form of a prison sentence of four years reduced as long as the defendant is in detention," said Public Prosecutor Eko Wahyu Prayitno as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 11.

In addition to imprisonment, the Corruption Eradication Commission's Public Prosecutor also demanded a fine of Rp. 110 million, subsidiary of three months in prison with an order that the defendant remain in custody.

Not only that, the KPK Prosecutor also demanded additional punishment for the defendant Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti in the form of revocation of political rights to be elected in public office for five years from the time the defendant finished serving his main sentence.

The KPK prosecutor stated that the defendant Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti had been proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing acts of corruption together and continuously as regulated and threatened in article 5 paragraph (1) letter b of the Law on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with article 55 paragraph (1 ) 1st of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code as stated in the first alternative indictment.

The prosecutor stated that the defendant's actions were aggravating, namely as the head of the region/regent that he did not support the government in efforts to eradicate corruption, the defendant was complicated in providing information and did not admit his actions.

Meanwhile, the mitigating factor is that the defendant Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti has never been convicted.

In the trial reading the demands, the KPK Prosecutor stated that former Tabanan Regent Eka Wiryastuti in his capacity as regent was proven to have ordered his staff, especially Dewa Nyoman Wiratmaja (the defendant in a separate file) to hand over bribes related to the management of the 2018 Tabanan DID which experienced a budget deficit.

The prosecutor revealed that the flow of bribes, termed traditional money, was handed over by the defendant Dewa Wiratmaja, who is a special staff member of Eka Wiryastuti, to two former employees of the Ministry of Finance, Yaya Purnomo and Rifa Surya, with a nominal value of IDR 600 million and USD 55,300 in stages on August 24, 2017, early November 2017, and 27 December 2017.

Meanwhile, Eka Wiryastuti's lawyer said that his party would prepare a plea at the next trial to refute the prosecutor's demands against his client.

"Our expert witness has explained that mens rea (the inner attitude of the perpetrator when committing an act or evil intention) will be a criminal act if there is an action. Eka does not know her name Rifa Surya. between those who were bribed and those who gave bribes," said Eka Wiryastuti's attorney, Gede Wija Kusuma when met after the trial.

Regarding the prosecutor's claim regarding the revocation of Eka Wiryastuti's political rights, Gede Wija Kusuma considered it a fabricated claim.

"This bribery case does not harm the state's finances," he said.

In addition, Gede Wija also stated that the term representative used by the Prosecutor to prosecute his client is a term that is not known in the criminal procedure law, because representative is included in state administrative law.