Rp157 Billion Road Project Bribe, Former Head of PUPR North Sumatra Topan Ginting Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Illustration of bribery (ANTARA)

MEDAN - The former Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Office of the North Sumatra Province (North Sumatra), Topan Obaja Ginting, was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison for being proven to have received bribes in a road construction project worth Rp. 157 billion.

The trial took place at the Medan District Court. In addition to imprisonment, Topan was also ordered to pay a fine and compensate the state.

Not only Typhoon, the Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Gunung Tua PUPR Office, Rasuli Effendi Siregar, was also sentenced to 4 years in prison. The two were caught in the case of bribery for the construction of the Sipiongot Batas Labuhanbatu Road and the Hutaimbaru Sipiongot Road project worth Rp. 157 billion.

The prosecutor of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) demanded Topan to pay a fine of Rp. 50 million, a substitute of one year in prison, while Rasuli had to pay a substitute of Rp. 250 million.

"For Typhoon Ginting we demand 5.6 years, while for Rasuli it is four years. Rasuli has indeed returned Rp. 250 million. Typhoon did not return, did not regret, and did not admit his actions," said KPK Prosecutor, Eko Wahyu, in the Tipikor room of the Medan District Court.

Eko also revealed that Topan and Rasuli received bribes from road construction contractors, namely PT Natolu Grub which was headed by Akhirun Piliang, and PT Rona Namora which was headed by Rayhan Dulasmi Piliang.

This bribe was given so that the two defendants would win the road construction tender through E-Katalog.

"Typhoon received a bribe of Rp. 50 million and Rasuli Rp. 250 million. While the project was running, Typhoon received a commitment fee of four percent of the total project value, while Rasuli received one percent," he said.

Both of them were charged with Article 12 letter (a) of Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code. The defense trial of the two defendants will be held next week.