KPK Public Prosecutor Calls Demand For 5 Years In Prison And IDR300 Million Fine For Inactive Regent Of Muara Enim, Juarsah

Defendant Juarsah attended the hearing for the reading of the charges at the Palembang District Court, Friday (Photo: ANTARA)

SUMSEL - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Public Prosecutor (JPU) demanded that the inactive Regent of Muara Enim, South Sumatra of Juarsah be sentenced to five years in prison.

"Stating that Juarsah is being sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of IDR 300 million, subsidiary to six months in prison", said KPK Public Prosecutor, Ricky B Magnaz, during a hearing to read the charges at the Palembang District Court.

The claim is appropriate for the defendant Juarsah. Based on the investigation process which was strengthened by the testimony of witnesses at the trial, continued Ricky, the defendant was proven to have received gratification in the form of money and goods.

The gratification of IDR 3 billion in money from the convict Robby Okta Fahlevi (a contractor who won the tender for 16 PUPR projects), IDR 1 billion in money, and an Apple device worth IDR 17 million from Iwan Rotari, which was handed over by the convict Elfin Muchtar (PUPR or Public Public Works Commitment Officer, Muara Enim).

"Our considerations are also based on the demands of the previous case against the convict Ahmad Yani and others as well as our considerations, one of which is that the defendant is not honest. So we think it is appropriate for the convict to be sentenced to five years in prison", he said.

In addition to these demands, he continued, the defendant was required to pay IDR 4 billion as a replacement. This money will be handed over to the state treasury because, as stated in Articles 17 and 18 concerning the Crime of Corruption, the perpetrators of acts of corruption, even though there is no state loss found, can be substituted for money.

"So the replacement money does not only come from the state losses it incurs but can also come from bribes and the like, that's the basis for the defendant to replace the money with a value of more than IDR 4 billion", he added.

The Chief Justice of the Panel of Judges, Sahlan Effendi, gave the defendant one week to consider accepting or submitting a plea for the KPK prosecutor. "The defendant's decision will be presented in court next week", he said.

Previously, based on the testimony of witnesses presented at the trial last Thursday, namely the Regent of Muara Enim Regency for the 2018-2019 period Ahmad Yani, former Head of the Muara Enim Public Works and Public Housing Agency Ramlan Suryadi, Head of the Regional Revenue Agency Rinaldo and Head of Project Ilham Sudiono said that defendant Juarsa asked for money to be used as capital for the nomination of his wife and children as members of the legislature as well as the needs of the defendant's umrah.

Then, upon the request, the witness gave IDR 4 billion of money out of a total of IDR 10 billion which was planned to stop after the 2018 KPK's Hand Capture Operation (OTT) against Ahmad Yani, the former Muara Enim Regent who until now has also ensnared the definitive Regent Juarsah who replaced Ahmad. Yani.

In this case, the prosecutor assessed that Juarsah was proven to have participated in receiving several funds from 16 road project packages at the PUPR Office of Muara Enim Regency for FY 2019 with a total amount of IDR 3.5 billion.

The defendant is subject to Article 12 letter a or Article 11 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code and Article 12 a, Article 12 B Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Corruption in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.