Former Head Of BPPD Sidoarjo Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison And A Fine Of IDR 500 Million In Incentive Fund Corruption Cases

Former Head of BPPD Sidoarjo Ary Suryono during the trial of reading the verdict at the Surabaya Corruption Court (Tipikor) in Sidoarjo, Wednesday (9/10/2024). (ANTARA/Umarul Faruq)

SIDOARJO - Former Head of the Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD) of Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, Ari Suryono was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to four months, as well as additional penalties in the form of replacement money of Rp. 2.77 billion.

Ari Suryono was proven guilty of corruption in cutting incentive funds for the state civil apparatus (ASN) within the Sidoarjo BPPD with a value of Rp. 8.5 billion.

"Declaring that the defendant is sentenced to five years in prison, a fine of Rp. 500 million, if you can't, it will be replaced by four months in prison and an additional penalty of Rp. 2.77 billion," said Chief Justice Ni Putu Sri Indayani during a hearing reading the verdict at the Surabaya Corruption Court (Tipikor) in Sidoarjo, Antara, Wednesday, October 9.

Hakin emphasized that if the defendant could not pay the replacement money, the property he owned would be confiscated and auctioned off. "If it can't, it will be replaced with imprisonment for two years," he said.

The verdict is lighter than the demands of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) public prosecutor who charged the defendant with a sentence of seven years and six months in prison and a replacement money of Rp. 7 billion.

Defendant Ari Suryono was proven to have violated Article 12 letter F in conjunction with Article 16 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the first in conjunction with Article 64 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code

Member judge Ibnu Abbas when reading the verdict said the aggravating thing was that the defendant did not support the government's program in administering a government that was clean and free from corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN).

"The defendant has enjoyed the results of a criminal act," he said.

The mitigating thing for the defendant has never been convicted, the defendant was polite during the trial. "The defendant has a contribution as the Head of the Sidoarjo BPPD in increasing the realization of Sidoarjo Regency tax revenue," he said.

The KPK on January 29, 2024, detained and named the Head of the General Subdivision and Personnel of the Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD) of Sidoarjo Regency Siska Wati (SW) as suspects in the alleged corruption case of cutting employee incentives within the BPPD of Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.

The KPK, then on Friday, February 23, 2024, detained and named the suspect status of the Head of the Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD) of Sidoarjo Regency Ari Suryono (AS) in the same case.

The construction of the case allegedly began when the Sidoarjo Regency BPPD succeeded in achieving the tax revenue target in 2023. For this target achievement, the Sidoarjo Regent then issued a decree to provide incentives to employees within the Sidoarjo Regency BPPD.

On the basis of this decision, the US then ordered SW to calculate the amount of incentive funds received by BPPD employees as well as the amount of deductions from the incentive funds which were then intended for the needs of the US and the Regent. The amount of the discount is between 10 percent and 30 percent in accordance with the amount of incentives received.

The US also ordered SW to technically hand over cash coordinated by each treasurer who has been appointed in three regional tax fields and the secretariat section.

The US suspect is also active in coordinating and communicating about the distribution of incentive funds to the Regent through the intermediary of several Regent's confidants.

Especially in 2023, SW was able to collect deductions and receipts of incentive funds from ASN amounting to around Rp2.7 billion. KPK investigators are also still investigating the flow of funds related to the alleged corruption case.

The investigation of the case continued until the KPK finally announced on Tuesday (16/4) that it had named Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of cutting employee incentives at the Sidoarjo Regency Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD).