Former Ministry Of Health Official Is Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison For Being Proven Committing Corruption Crime In The Procurement Of Medical Equipment

Former Ministry of Health official Bambang Giatno Rahardjo/ Antara

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced former Ministry of Health official Bambang Giatno Rahardjo to two years in prison for being proven to commit corruption in the procurement of Medical Equipment and Laboratory for Tropical Infection Hospital Airlangga University.

"The trial stated that the defendant Bambang Giatno Rahardjo was legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption as a subsidiary indictment. Sentencing the defendant for 2 years plus a fine of IDR 50 million, subsidiary of 2 months in prison", said the head of the panel of judges Muslim at the Corruption Court Jakarta, reported by Antara, Thursday, June 10.

The verdict is lower than the demands of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) public prosecutor who requested that the former Head of the Ministry of Health's Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency (BPPSDM) be sentenced to 2.5 years in prison plus a fine of IDR 100 million, subsidiary to 3 months in prison.

The mitigating thing in Bambang's actions is that he has returned the full amount of IDR 100 million.

"On the request to open a blocked account in the name of Bambang Giatno Rahardjo, the panel will grant it because the panel considers that the account is no longer needed in the case", said the judge.

Another defendant in this case, the Marketing Director of PT Anugerah Nusantara (joined in the Permai Group) Minarsih was also sentenced to 2 years in prison.

"The trial stated that the defendant Minarsih was legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption as a subsidiary indictment. Sentencing the defendant for 2 years plus a fine of IDR 50 million, subsidiary of 2 months in prison", said the judge.

Minarsih is currently known to be serving a sentence at the Pondok Bambu correctional institution related to the corruption case that dragged the former general treasurer of the Democratic Party, M Nazaruddin.

"The aggravating thing is that the defendant's actions do not help the government's program to eradicate and prevent corruption, the defendant is serving another criminal sentence. The mitigating thing is that the defendant does not receive money or goods, the defendant has been a widow for a long time, the defendant has family dependents", added the judge.

Minarsih's verdict is also lower than the demands of the KPK prosecutor who requested that Minarsih be sentenced to 3 years plus a fine of IDR 100 million, subsidiary to 3 months in prison.

Both were proven to have committed acts based on the indictment of Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 19 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.

In this case, Bambang together with Minarsih and Zulkarnain Kasim as the Budget User Authority (KPA) and M Nazaruddin as the owner and controller of Anugrah Permai Group have caused state financial losses of IDR 14.139 billion in the procurement of Medical Equipment and Laboratory for Tropical Infection Hospitals. Universitas Airlangga phase 1 and 2 for fiscal year 2010.

Their actions benefited Bambang Giatno of USD 7.500 or equivalent to IDR 100 million, Zulkarnain Kasim of USD 9.500, Bantu Marpaung of IDR 154 million, and Ellisnawaty of IDR 100 million and enriched Permai Group corporations of IDR 13.681 billion.

For the procurement of medical and laboratory equipment for the Tropical Infection Hospital, Airlangga University Phase I, PT Buana Ramosari Gemilang won the flag which Permai Group borrowed in exchange for IDR 154 million to Bantu Marpaung as the owner of PT Buana.

PT Buana received a payment of IDR 34.77 billion even though the work had not been completed 100 percent until the deadline for completion of the work on December 31, 2010, because the medical equipment was only delivered in January 2011. The entire money paid to PT Buana was controlled by the Permai Group.

For the procurement of medical equipment and laboratories for the Tropical Infection Hospital, Airlangga University Phase II, PT Marell Mandiri won, whose flag was borrowed by Permai Group in exchange for IDR 100 million to Ellisnawaty from PT Marell Mandiri.

PT Marell Mandiri received a payment of IDR 44.018 billion even though the work was delayed due to the deadline for completing the work on December 31, 2010, because the medical equipment was only delivered in January 2011. The entire money paid to PT Marell Mandiri was controlled by the Permai Group.

The medical devices purchased by Permai Group from vendors for the implementation of phase I work were only IDR 28.492 billion, so there was a difference of IDR 6.277 billion. Likewise, for phase II, Permai Group only bought medical supplies worth IDR 36.157 billion, so there was a difference of IDR 7.861 billion.

Regarding the verdict, Bambang said he had thought about it for 7 days, Minarsih said he had accepted it and the KPK prosecutor was also still thinking about it for 7 days.