PT Medan Increases The Sentence Of Former Samosir Regent From A Year To 6 Years In Prison

Former Regent of Samosir Mangindar Simbolon (central) listened to the verdict reading at the Medan District Court Corruption Court, Tuesday (19/3/2024). (ANTARA/Aris)

The Medan High Court, North Sumatra, has increased the sentence of former Regent Samosir Mangindar Simbolon from one year to six years in prison.

"The defendant Mangindar Simbolon was sentenced to six years in prison," wrote the contents of the verdict on the Supreme Court website quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 7.

In addition, the defendant Mangindar Simbolon was required to pay a fine of Rp. 300 million on the condition that if he was not paid, he would be replaced with five months in prison.

The decision of the Medan High Court Number: 21/PID.SUS-TPK/2024/PT MDN dated June 7, 2024, also changed the decision of the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Medan District Court Number: 129/PID.SUS-TPK/2023/PN MDN.

In the appeal decision chaired by the Panusunan Harahap High Court Justice, former Samosir Regent Mangindar Simbolon was proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption in the permit to open the Tele forest in Partungko Naginjang Village, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra.

Mangindar Simbolon was also sentenced to pay compensation of Rp32.74 billion in one month after the decision has permanent legal force. If it is not paid after the appeal decision is issued, the defendant's property will be confiscated and auctioned off to cover the replacement money.

"However, if the defendant does not have sufficient assets to pay the replacement money, he will be replaced with imprisonment for two years," the verdict reads.

Previously, the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court sentenced former Samosir Regent Mangindar Simbolon to one year in prison for the corruption case in the opening of the Tele forest in Samosir Regency.

"In addition, the defendant Mangindar Simbolon was sentenced to pay a fine of Rp. 50 million on the condition that if he was not paid, he would be replaced with one month in prison," said Chief Justice As'Ad Rahim when reading the verdict at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court, Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

The panel of judges believes that the defendant is proven and guilty of violating 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 Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 of the Criminal Code.