Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah Sued 8 Years In Prison

The trial of the prosecution at the Bengkulu Corruption Court, Wednesday (30/7/2025). ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

BENGKULU - The KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) charged former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah with a basic sentence of eight years in prison and a fine of Rp700 million, subsidiary to six months in prison, related to cases of alleged gratification and extortion.

Rohidin was also charged with additional penalties in the form of replacement money to the state amounting to Rp39.6 billion, US$72.15 and S$349 and if he was unable to pay, his property would be confiscated or replaced with a three-year prison sentence and his political rights revoked for two years after serving his main sentence.

"That the facts at the trial, in which 99 witnesses have been presented, show that the three defendants have been proven to have violated the law on eradicating corruption as stated in the indictment," said KPK RI prosecutor Tony Indra at the Bengkulu Corruption Court (Tipikor), Wednesday, July 30, reported by ANTARA.

The defendant, former Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Bengkulu Province, Isnan Fajri, was charged with imprisonment for six years in prison with a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to six months in prison and free from substitute money.

Meanwhile, the defendant, former aide to the Governor of Bengkulu Evriansyah alias Anca, was charged with imprisonment for five years with a fine of Rp250 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.

The three defendants were legally and convincingly proven to have violated Article 12 letters B and E of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, junto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

"For articles that are suspected of Article 12 letter e concerning extortion in positions and Article 12B concerning gratification. So it is related to state losses (which are charged to Rohidin) not using Article 2 and Article 3," he said.

For things that burden the defendants, namely not supporting the central government's program in eradicating corruption, while the mitigating factor is because the defendants have family responsibilities.

"The punishment was the most severe because the defendant Rohidin moved all of them, one of which moved echelon II, III and IV to collect money whose goal was for the benefit of the gubernatorial candidate," explained Tony.

Meanwhile, after listening to the demands of the KPK prosecutor, the three defendants will file a defense, the attorneys and defendants will submit a written defense at the trial which will be scheduled for August 12, 2025.

Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah explained that he would prepare for the plea and would undergo the next trial.

"Earlier, we heard the prosecutor's demands, we prepared a pledoi, we'll just do it," he said.