Charged By Prosecutor For 12 Years In Prison, Former Kupang Mayor, Jonas, Was Released By Judge

The panel of judges at the Kupang Corruption Court, East Nusa Tenggara, sentenced former Kupang Mayor Jonas Salean to the case of distributing land belonging to the Kupang City Government (ANTARA)

KUPANG - The panel of judges at the Kupang Corruption Court, East Nusa Tenggara, sentenced former Kupang Mayor, Jonas Salean, to a case of distributing land belonging to the Kupang City Government.

"Stating that Jonas Salean was not legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption. Release the defendant from all charges and from detention as soon as the verdict is read," Chief Judge Ari Prabowo said reading the verdict at the Kupang Corruption Court, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 17.

The panel of judges assessed that the land located in front of the Sasando Hotel in Kupang City is not an asset of the Kupang City government. Therefore, according to the judge, giving land to 40 recipients in the city was not an act against the law.

Responding to the ex-Mayor of Kupang Jonas, Public Prosecutor (JPU) Heri Franklin objected and will pursue an appeal.

"Based on the verdict, your Honor's permission has expressed an objection and we will continue to pursue an appeal," said the public prosecutor.

Previously, the public prosecutor charged Jonas Salean with imprisonment for 12 years, a fine of IDR 1 billion subsidiary to 6 months in prison, and obliged to pay state compensation money of IDR 750 million, subsidiary to 6 years in prison.