Soetikno Soedarjo Sentenced To Free From Garuda Aircraft Corruption Case

Former President Director of PT Mugi Rekso Abadi (MRA) Soetikno Soedaro in the trial of reading the verdict of the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Wednesday (31/7/2024). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

JAKARTA - Former President Director of PT Mugi Rekso Abadi (MRA) Soetikno Soedaro was acquitted of the alleged corruption case in the procurement of aircraft at PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.

Chief Justice Rianto Adam Pontoh stated that Soetikno Soedarjo was not legally and convincingly proven according to law guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption as charged in the primary indictment and the indictment of a subsidiary public prosecutor.

"Ordered the defendant to be immediately released from detention as soon as this decision was pronounced," Pontoh said in a trial reading the verdict of the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 31.

Therefore, the panel of judges restored Soetikno's rights in his abilities, position, dignity, and dignity and charged the state with court fees.

According to Hakim, in the corruption crime of procuring Bombardier CRJ-1000 and ATR 72-600 aircraft at Garuda Indonesia, Soetikno was indeed involved as an intermediary commercial advisor or intermediary commercial advisor.

However, in his role at that time, the panel of judges assessed that Soetikno had been sentenced in the previous case in 2020.

In addition, continued Hakim, Soetikno's participation was completed when the Bombardier CRJ-1000 and ATR 72-600 aircraft were handed over to Garuda Indonesia.

"After the two planes were handed over and operated by Garuda, it was no longer the authority of Soetikno as the intermediary commercial advisor of the aircraft," said Hakim.

Meanwhile, regarding the money amounting to 1.66 million US dollars and 4.34 million euros received by Soetikno, the panel of judges argued that the money was legal and was his right as an intermediary commercial advisor.

"So we disagree with the public prosecutor who asks the defendant to be charged with replacement money because the elements causing state losses are not fulfilled," said Pontoh.

Previously, Soetikno was sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to six months in prison in the case of aircraft procurement at Garuda Indonesia.

In addition, he was also required to pay a replacement fee of 1.66 million US dollars and 4.34 million euros, a subsidiary of three years in prison.

The prosecutor assessed that the businessman was proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption as regulated and threatened with crime as referred to in Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.

In this case, Soetikno is allegedly proven to have conspired with Emirsyah Satar as President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia 2005 2014 in the procurement of aircraft on the airline, resulting in state financial losses at Garuda Indonesia with a total of 609.81 million US dollars.

Soetikno has also been convicted in different cases. On May 8, 2020, he was sentenced to six years in prison plus a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to three months in prison for being proven to have bribed Emirsyah and laundering money.