Former Samosir Regent Mangindar Simbolon Sued 4 Years In Prison

North Sumatra High Prosecutor Erick Sawama (left) read out the memorandum of demand at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Friday (8/3/2024). (HO).

The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office demanded 4 years in prison for the former Regent of Mangindar Simbolon due to the corruption case of land clearing permits in Samosir Regency.

"In addition, the defendant Mangindar Simbolon was also required to pay a fine of Rp. 100 million, if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with imprisonment for four months," said North Sumatra Attorney General Erick Sarumara at the Medan District Court, reported by ANTARA, Friday, March 8.

According to Erick, the prosecutor believes that from the facts of the trial the defendant has fulfilled the criminal element of Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 paragraph (1) letter b of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

"That is, carrying out or participating in abuse of authority, opportunity or facilities, opportunities or facilities in their positions has resulted in state financial losses related to land clearing in Samosir Regency," he said, citing the article material.

After reading the memorandum of demand by the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, the panel of judges chaired by Asad Rahim continued the trial scheduled for next week with the agenda of the defendant's defense note.

Previously, the North Sumatra Special Criminal Investigation Team detained the former Samosir Regent with the initials MS on August 23, 2023, regarding the alleged corruption case of land clearing in Samosir Regency which resulted in state losses of around Rp32.74 billion.

"The North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office has detained MS on suspicion of corruption in the permit to clear land for settlements and agriculture in forest areas in Partungko Naginjang Village, Harian District, Samosir Regency, because it is suspected that it is not in accordance with the stipulated conditions," said Head of the Legal Information Section of the North Sumatra Attorney General's Office Yos A. Tarigan.

Yos said the alleged corruption was carried out when the suspect MS was still the Head of the Toba Samosir Forestry Service from 1999 to 2005, namely based on the testimony of witnesses, experts, decrees and evidence of instructions.

"From the results of the calculation of state losses based on the results of an audit from the North Sumatra Regional BPKP, there was a state loss of Rp. 32,740,000,000," said Yos.