4 Defendants In Oil Palm Plantation Corruption Case In Bengkulu Are Charged With 6 Years In Prison And IDR 600 Million Compensation

The four defendants while listening to the demands of the Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office. ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

BENGKULU - The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Bengkulu High Court has demanded four defendants in the corruption case for the Distribution of Funds for Oil Palm Plantation Rejuvenation Activities (PPKS) or replanting of oil palm in Pinang Raya District, North Bengkulu Regency for 6 years in prison.

The four defendants are the Chairperson of the Rindang Jaya Farmers Group AS, the Secretary of the Rindang Jaya Farmers Group ED, the Treasurer of the Rindang Jaya Farmers Group S, and the Head of Tanjung Muara Village, namely P.

"I believe that the four defendants, Chair of the Rindang Jaya Farmers Group, namely AS, ED, S, and P, are guilty of the alleged corruption case for replanting oil palm," said Bengkulu Prosecutor General's Office Head Dewi Kemalasari when reading the indictment at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) in Bengkulu City, Antara, Tuesday, March 14.

Apart from being demanded six years in prison, the defendants also had to pay fines like AS and P in the amount of IDR 500 million, a subsidiary of six months in prison, and pay a replacement of IDR 4.9 billion.

Then the defendant ED was fined IDR 500 million, a subsidiary of six months, and a replacement of IDR 600 million, and defendant S was fined IDR 500 million, a subsidiary of 6 months, and a replacement of IDR 600 million.

"For replacement money according to Article 18, because the money has been confiscated, they are not obliged to pay replacement money," he explained.

Dewi explained that the four defendants were found guilty of violating Article 2 of the Corruption Crime Law for their actions to enrich themselves or others in terms of channeling PPKS assistance funds to the Rindang Jaya farmer group.

The value of PPKS assistance channeled to the Rindang Jaya farmer group's escrow account reached IDR 21 billion for 215 beneficiaries with an area of ​​708.113 hectares.

Furthermore, based on the audit results of the experts, it was found that state losses reached IDR 9 billion arising from the falsification of Identity Card (KTP) and Family Card (KK) documents by the four defendants and many recipients received more assistance than was provided.

Previously, the Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) confiscated IDR 13 billion from four suspects in a case of alleged corruption in oil palm replanting activities in North Bengkulu Regency in 2019-2020.