Lukas Enembe's Lawyer, Stefanus Roy Rening Was Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison

Lawyer for former Papuan governor Lukas Enembe, Stefanus Roy Rening, walked out of the courtroom at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/2/2024). (ANTARA/Fath Putra Mulya)

JAKARTA - Lawyer for the former governor of Papua, the late Lukas Enembe, Stefanus Roy Rening, was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and a fine of Rp. 150 million, subsidiary to 3 months in prison.

The verdict was read out by Chief Justice Rianto Adam Pontoh during a trial at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN), Jakarta, Wednesday, February 7.

"The defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for 4 years and 6 months and a fine of Rp. 150 million, provided that if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with imprisonment for 3 months," Pontoh said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 7.

The defendant Stefanus Roy Rening was found guilty of obstructing the investigation of Lukas Enembe, who at that time was caught in a bribery and gratification case.

"Declaring that the defendant Stefanus Roy Rening has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of obstructing the investigation of corruption as in the single indictment of the public prosecutor," added Pontoh.

The judge's verdict is lower than the demands of the public prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

On Wednesday (17/1), the KPK prosecutor demanded that Stefanus Roy Rening be sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 150 million, a subsidiary of 4 months in prison.

The Panel of Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court considers it burdensome that the defendant's actions do not support the government's program in realizing the government and state bureaucracy that is clean and free from corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN).

In addition, the defendant Stefanus Roy Rening was also considered by the judge to have not admitted his actions and was convoluted during the trial.

"The situation is mitigating, the defendant has never been convicted, the defendant has family responsibilities, the defendant behaved politely during the trial," said member judge Dennie Arsan Fatrika.

On the verdict, the defendant Stefanus Roy Rening decided to think about it first to appeal or not.

"I have heard the verdict. My attitude is to think about it while waiting (and) studying (the decision). I ask that we can read the verdict quickly, so that we can have a grace period of seven days to state our position," said ROy.

In this case, Roy Rening was charged with deliberately preventing, obstructing, or thwarting directly or indirectly the KPK's investigation into the former governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe.

The panel of judges assessed that the indictment had been proven in court. According to the judge, an advocate should have good intentions in carrying out his duties and professions for the sake of upholding justice based on law to defend his client.

"The defendant as an advocate in defending his client, in this case Lukas Enembe, has had bad intentions in ways that violate the laws and code of ethics of Indonesian advocates," said judge hoctipikor Ali Muhtarom as member judge.