Bendara Gampong Balohan Diivanis 2 Years In Prison In The Village Fund Corruption Case In Banda Aceh

The defendant in the corruption of Gampong Balohan village fund, Sabang City, attended the trial at the Corruption Court at the Banda Aceh District Court in Banda Aceh, Friday (21/3/2025). ANTARA/M Haris SA

ACEH - The panel of judges at the Banda Aceh Corruption Court (Tipikor) sentenced the defendant Ahsani Taqwin to two years in prison as Treasurer of Balohan Village, Sabang City in the Village Fund corruption case.

The panel of judges chaired by Faisal Mahdi in today's verdict session required Ahsani Taqwin to pay a fine of Rp. 100 million, subsidiary to one month in prison.

In addition, the defendant was asked to pay compensation because the money worth Rp193.2 had been confiscated from the defendant during the investigation.

In the trial, the panel of judges stated that the defendant Ahsani Taqwin was legally and convincingly proven guilty of violating Article 10 letter a of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended into Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the eradication of criminal acts of corruption.

However, for the other defendants in the same case on behalf of Eddy Saputra, a resident of Gampong Balohan, the panel of judges released him from all charges by the public prosecutor.

The panel of judges stated that the defendant Eddy Saputra was not legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing no criminal act of corruption as stated in the indictment of public prosecutor's services.

Based on the facts at the trial, the judge explained that Balohan Village or Village in Sukajaya District, Sabang City, received an allocation of village funds of IDR 4.8 billion in 2024.

Then, the defendant Ahsani Taqwin withdrew funds based on the approval of the village head as much as Rp350 million.

The funds are intended to pay village spending needs, pay salaries and allowances for apparatus, pay for children's recitation fees, for business entities owned by Gampong, and other necessities.

Of the Rp350 million funds disbursed by the defendant, Rp118.3 million was used to pay for all these needs. While the rest funds are stored in the village office.

"The defendant Ahsani Taqwin took money in the safe for himself. Then, the defendant Ahsani invited the defendant Eddy Saputra to burn the village office with the aim of as if the money in the safe was burned," said the panel of judges, confiscated by Antara.

However, said the panel of judges, the defendant Eddy Saputra did not know what he meant to be invited to burn the village office. Thus, there is no evidence to strengthen the defendant Eddy Saputra in committing a criminal act of corruption, so he must be acquitted of all charges.

The verdict given to Ahsani was lighter than the demands of the public prosecutor. At the previous trial, the public prosecutor charged the defendant Ahsani Taqwin with a sentence of three years in prison and a fine of Rp. 100 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.

The public prosecutor also charged the defendant Ahsani Taqwin with an additional sentence in the form of paying compensation for state losses of Rp. 6.2 million. If the defendant does not pay, he will be sentenced to six months in prison.

Meanwhile, against the defendant Eddy Saputra, the public prosecutor demanded a sentence of two years in prison. As well as a fine of Rp. 100 million with a subsidiary of three months in prison.

The public prosecutor stated that the two defendants were found guilty as regulated in Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 Paragraph (1) letters a, b Paragraph (2) and Paragraph (3) of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended into Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the eradication of criminal acts of corruption in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.

Based on this decision, the panel of judges asked the public prosecutor and the two defendants to express their attitude whether they accepted it or not. The panel of judges gave the parties seven days to act.