Zarof Ricar Asks For IDR 15 Billion To Manage Ronald Tannur's Case But Is Offered To IDR 5 Billion

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has again conducted the house of a former Supreme Court (MA) official, Zarof Ricar (DOK Rizky AP/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Supreme Court (MA) official Zarof Ricar is said to have asked for Rp15 billion for the handling of the Gregorius Ronald Tannur case, who at that time was a defendant in a murder case.

This was conveyed by Stephanie Christel, who is Lisa Rachmat's nephew as well as a witness from the public prosecutor (JPU) at the trial of the alleged bribery case of Gregorius Ronald Tannur's acquittal with the defendants three inactive judges at the Surabaya District Court, Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul and Heru Hanindy.

The testimony began when the prosecutor questioned his knowledge of the existence of a free request in the Ronald Tannur case. At that time, the witness said he did not know about it.

Then, the prosecutor changed his question by mentioning whether there was a request from Lisa Rachmat regarding Ronald Tannur's acquittal.

"Or has there been a request from Lisa Rachmat to release Ronald Tannur?" asked the prosecutor during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday, February 18.

Then, the witness said that what he heard opened the request for a release verdict. But related to the Supreme Court.

"It's not that language, because at that time what Stef heard was not about his release but about his Supreme Court," answered the witness.

"How?" said the prosecutor to clarify the testimony of witnesses.

The witness then said that there was an agreement with Zarof Ricar. In fact, there was a request for money which amounted to Rp. 15 billion.

"Yang Stef mengingat ada deal dengan Pak Zarof," sebut saksi.

"What is the deal?" said the prosecutor.

"Pak Zarof said the nominal was to be taken care of to MA people, to his friends, his friends are like that," said the witness.

The request for money was not immediately approved. Because, there was an effort to bid for the nominal requested to be lower. Until finally there was an agreement with Zarof regarding the fee for handling the Ronald Tannur case amounting to Rp5 billion.

"Then Mr. Zarof said the nominal, as far as I remember it was Rp. 15 billion, then, don't be too expensive, sir. Then it was offered until it ended up being Rp. 5 billion, then a deal," said the witness.

The prosecutor did not immediately believe the testimony. So, questioning how witnesses can know this.

The witness also stated that he was involved in the forum that discussed the fee for handling the Ronald Tannur case.

"Witnesses can know about the incident, right? Was the witness there at that time?" asked the prosecutor.

"When there are more, I'm coming, usually I don't come. Usually they go into their own house, I'm outside, in the waiting room," said the witness.

"Witness to hear for yourself means yes?" asked the prosecutor asserting.

"Listen to yourself," replied the witness.

Meanwhile, the three inactive judges of the Surabaya District Court who were charged with accepting bribes in the form of gifts or promises amounting to Rp4.67 billion and gratuities in cases of alleged bribery and gratuities for granting acquittal to the convicted murder of Ronald Tannur in 2024.

In addition to bribes, the three are also suspected of receiving gratuities in the form of rupiah and various foreign currencies, namely Singapore dollars, Malaysian ringgit, Japanese yen, euro, and Saudi riyals.

Thus, the actions of the defendants are regulated and subject to criminal penalties in Article 12 letter c or Article 6 Paragraph (2) or Article 5 Paragraph (2) and Article 12 B in conjunction with Article 18 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 Paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.

In detail, the bribes allegedly received by the three judges included Rp1 billion and 308 thousand Singapore dollars or Rp3.67 billion (exchange rate of Rp11,900).