Bali Civil Servant Defendant Of Extortion Sentenced To 1.5 Years In Prison

Defendant I Putu Suarya alias Putu Balik is undergoing a verdict trial at the Denpasar Corruption Court, Bali, Friday (21/6/2024). ANTARA/Rolandus Nappu

The Denpasar District Court Judges sentenced 1 year and 6 months (1.5 years) to prison for Badung Regency Civil Servants (PNS) I Putu Suarya alias Putu Balik in the case of illegal levies or gratuities (contract employee brokers).

The verdict was knocked by the Panel of Judges at the Denpasar Corruption Court (Tipikor), Bali, Friday, June 21.

In the decision of the leadership of Chief Justice Ni Made Okti Madiani, accompanied by Member Judge Gede Putra Astawa and Nelson, the defendant Putu Suarya was declared legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of gratification in accepting prospective contract employees in Badung Regency.

"Declaring that the defendant is legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act as the second indictment," said presiding judge Okti as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 21.

In addition, the civil servant is subject to a fine of Rp. 50 million. If the fine cannot be paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment of three months in prison.

The verdict conveyed by the Panel of Judges was six months lower than the demands of the Badung District Prosecutor (JPU). In his charge, the Public Prosecutor asked the panel of judges to imprison the defendant for two years.

The actions of the Badung Regency Government civil servants are as regulated in Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption Jo. Article 65 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

After reading the decision, the panel of judges gave the defendant the opportunity to discuss with his legal advisor Aji Silaban from the Peradi Denpasar Legal Aid Center (PBH), whether to accept the decision, think first, or file a legal action.

After discussing, the defendant also stated that his legal advisor accepted the decision. "We accept Your Honor," said PH representing Suarya.

The Badung District Prosecutor also stated that he accepted the judge's decision.

Previously, I Putu Suarya alias Putu Balik was charged with abusing his position when he was a civil servant of the Badung Regency Community and Village Empowerment Service in 2021, to benefit himself.

The defendant Putu Balik initially knew information related to the requirements and formation of non-civil servant workers at the Badung Regency Government SKPD.

Then the information was misused to help make the child from NAW, the son of INGS, the son of NNS, IPII and the wife of IPII as Non-PNS Workers in the Badung Regency Government SKPD. The defendant also asked and received a sum of money that was said to smooth out the brokering practice, both in cash and in transfer.

The money from NAW amounted to Rp47 million, from INGS in the amount of Rp57 million from NNS in the amount of Rp174 million and from IPII in the amount of Rp380 million, related to making non-civil servant workers in the Badung Regency Government SKPD.

But in the end, none of them were accepted to work and Putu Balik was then processed by law for his actions.