The Journey Of Angelina Sondakh's Corruption Case Was Imprisoned For 10 Years Until Finally Freed

Angelina Sondakh/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Democratic Party faction, Angelina Sondakh will soon breathe free air from the Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary (Lapas) Jakarta on Thursday, March 3. He was released after serving a 10-year sentence.

Head of Public Relations and Protocol of the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjen PAS) Rika Aprianti said Angie, as Angelina Sondakh is called, will undergo a leave program before being released (CMB) for three months. So, he will be released from prison.

"That on March 3, 2022, Angelina Sondakh will be expelled from the Jakarta Women's Prison to start running the CMB program as a correctional client with continued guidance from the South Jakarta Penitentiary for three months," Rika said in a written statement.

Angie has been in prison since 27 April 2012. She was found guilty of being involved in a corruption case in the construction of the 2011 SEA Games Athlete's House in Palembang.

So a suspect in 2012 and sentenced to the Corruption Court in 2013

Angie was named a suspect in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on February 3, 2012. At that time, she was still a member of the DPR RI as well as the DPR's Budget Agency.

Angie's determination as a suspect began with the development of the alleged bribery case for the athlete's homestead that ensnared Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is a former General Treasurer of the Democratic Party.

After the investigation process continued until the trial was continued, in January 2013, the Panel of Judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Angie to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

Not only that, he was also required to pay a fine of Rp. 250 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison. This verdict was handed down by the panel of judges because he was proven to have received money worth Rp. 2.5 billion and US$ 1.2 million from the Permai Group.

The money was given because Angie, as a member of the House of Representatives and Banggar DPR RI agreed to accompany the higher education project budget at the Ministry of National Education so that it was according to Permai Group's request.

Even so, the verdict is lower than the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU). Where in the lawsuit, Angie is required to be in prison for 12 years plus a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.

In addition, he is also not required to pay compensation for his actions.

Sentence increased by the Supreme Court

Angie later became one of the victims of Artidjo Alkostar's cold hand in punishing corruptors. At the Supreme Court's cassation level, the sentence was increased to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million.

In addition, he was also sentenced to additional penalties in the form of payment of compensation in the amount of Rp. 12.58 billion and US$ 2.35 million or equivalent to Rp. 27.4 billion in the rupiah exchange rate at that time.

This decision was made by Artidjo as Chair of the Supreme Court Criminal Chamber with judges consisting of MS Lumme and Mohammad Askin on November 20, 2013.

In addition, Angie was also charged with Article 12 a of the Anti-Corruption Law which automatically overturned the decisions of the Anti-Corruption Court and the DKI Jakarta High Court which stated that she was charged with Article 11 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

In its decision, the panel stated that Angie was actively requesting and receiving money related to projects at the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Not only that, Artidjo also said that Angie played an active role in bringing together and introducing Mindo Rosalina Manulang, who was the former Marketing Director of the Permai Group with the Secretary of the Directorate General of Higher Education of the National Ministry of Education, Haris Iskandar.

The meeting was held to facilitate budgeting and from his actions he received a fee of Rp12.58 billion and US$2.35 million.

After serving his two-year sentence, Angie then filed a final legal remedy, namely a judicial review to the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court granted the PK so that Angie's sentence was circumcised to 10 years in prison plus a fine of Rp. 500 million. The reduction occurred around the end of 2015.

In addition, there was also a reduction in the compensation money sentence to Rp. 2.5 billion and US$ 1.2 million, a subsidiary of 1 year in prison. The PK proposed by Angie was tried by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Syarifuddin, who is also the Deputy Chair of the Supreme Court for Supervision, with members of the Supreme Court Justice Andi Samsan Nganro and an ad hoc judge for corruption at the cassation level, Syamsul Rakan Chaniago.