Judge Sentenced Former Palangka Raya Regent Ben Brahim 5 Years And Wife 4 Years In Corruption Case

The two defendants Ben Brahim S Bahat and Ary Egahni hugged their families after listening to the verdict at the Palangka Raya Corruption Court, Central Kalimantan, Tuesday, 12/12/2023. BETWEEN/Personal Documents

PALANGKA RAYA - The Panel of Judges at the Palangka Raya Corruption Court, Central Kalimantan, sentenced the former Regent of Kapuas, Ben Brahim S Bahat. Not only that, Ben Brahim Ary Egahni's wife was also sentenced to four years in prison in the same case. "Trial and declare that the defendants Ben Brahim and Ary Egahni have been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption, together as the first and second indictments," said the panel of judges chaired by Achmad Peten Sili while reading the verdict at the Palangka Raya Corruption Court, Central Kalimantan, Antara, Tuesday, December 12. Then, in addition to the main sentence of the former Kapuas Regent, he was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to imprisonment for three months. Meanwhile, Egahni was also fined Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to three months in prison. The panel of judges also imposed additional penalties in the form of replacement money of more than Rp. 6 billion, provided that no later than the court's decision would receive permanent legal force. If at that time the defendant did not have replacement money, his property was confiscated and auctioned off, to cover the replacement money. "In the event that the defendant does not have sufficient property, he will be replaced with imprisonment for two years," he said. The Panel of Judges at the Palangka Raya Corruption Court also sentenced the two defendants to additional sentences, namely in the form of revocation of the right to be elected in public office for five years after the defendants finished serving their sentences. Based on this decision, the two defendants, through their legal advisors, Regginaldo Sultan and Akmal Hidayat, took a thinking attitude. Likewise, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) also expressed his thoughts. The judge gave seven days to determine the attitude if he did not give an answer, then the judge was deemed to have accepted the decision. The verdict was lighter than the prosecutor's demands, which previously charged the defendant Brahim with eight years and four months in prison and Egahni was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The prosecutor also demanded to impose a fine on the defendants of Rp. 500 million each, subsidiary to six months in prison. The prosecutor also demanded to impose an additional penalty in the form of replacement money to the state amounting to Rp. 8.8 billion, subsidiary to three years in prison.