Proven Corruption, Former Head Of North Sumatra Health Office Alwi Mu Tail Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

The defendant, former Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office, Dr. Alwi Mu Tail Hasibuan, listened to the verdict of the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court, Friday (16/8/2024). (ANTARA/Aris Rinaldi Nasution)

JAKARTA - The panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court sentenced former Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office (North Sumatra) Dr. Alwi Mu Tail Hasibuan (58), to a prison sentence of 10 years.

Chief Justice Muhammad Nazir said the defendant Alwi Mukal was legally and convincingly proven to have committed corruption in the procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) in 2020, which cost the state finances Rp24 billion.

"The defendant Alwi Mu Tail Hasibuan was sentenced to 10 years in prison," said Nazir when reading the verdict reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 16.

In addition to imprisonment, Nazir continued, the defendant Alwi Mukal was sentenced to pay a fine of Rp. 400 million on the condition that if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with imprisonment for three months.

The judge also sentenced the defendant to pay a replacement money of Rp1.4 billion, provided that if within a month after the case remains legally binding, the defendant's property is confiscated and confiscated by the state.

"If it is not sufficient to cover the state's financial losses, it will be replaced with imprisonment for four years," said Nazir.

The same verdict was also given by Chief Justice Muhammad Nazir to the defendant Robby Messa Nura (44), as a partner (separate file), namely a prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of Rp. 400 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.

However, for the replacement money, the defendant Robby Messa was sentenced to pay more than the defendant Alwi Mukal worth Rp. 15.82 billion, a subsidiary of five years in prison.

The judge stated that the two defendants were proven to have violated Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 18 paragraph (1), paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) 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) of the 1st Criminal Code.

The aggravating thing was the actions of the two defendants because they did not support the government's program to eradicate corruption, and instead caused state losses of Rp. 24 billion.

"Meanwhile, mitigating factors, the two defendants have never been convicted, and were polite during the trial," said Nazir.

The verdict was lighter than the demands of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office (JPU) who charged the two defendants with imprisonment for 20 years.

Previously, the Public Prosecutor of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Hendri Edison Sipahutar, in the indictment said that this case began in March 2020. At that time, the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office procured PPE for COVID-19 with a contract value of Rp39.97 billion.

However, in the preparation of the budget plan (RAB) signed by the defendant Dr. Alwi Mu Tail Hasibuan as Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office, it is suspected that it is not in accordance with the provisions due to the high price of the PPE unit.

Furthermore, the procurement of PPE was given to the defendant Robby Messa Nura with a price offer that was not much different from the RAB.

"As a result of the actions of the two defendants, based on the results of the calculation of state losses carried out by the certified forensic audit team, there was a state loss of Rp. 24 billion," said Public Prosecutor Hendri.