Defending Appeals For Sentences, The KPK Asks Rahmat Effendi To Pay Money In Lieu Of IDR 17 Billion

The inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi or Pepen. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has appealed against the decision of the inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi Alias Pepen by the Corruption Court Judge at the Bandung District Court (PN). They asked for additional punishment in the form of payment of replacement money to be imposed.

"(The appeal application, ed) related to not being granted a replacement money of Rp. 17 billion," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters, Wednesday, November 9.

In the appeal filed by the KPK Prosecutor, continued Ali, Pepen is believed to ask for money from agencies and companies directly and use his position as Mayor of Bekasi. "So the agencies and companies that are asked to be willing to give money," he said.

When the money was given, the company and agency did not see Pepen as the committee for the construction of the Arryasakha Mosque. The handover was made because they saw the position of mayor attached when the request for money was submitted.

Ali said the anti-corruption commission wanted a further court to consider the appeal submitted. The imposition of this additional criminal sentence is deemed to have fulfilled a sense of justice.

"KPK hopes that the Panel of Judges of the High Court will grant all the appeals and decide in accordance with the demands of the Prosecutor's Team," he said.

Previously, the Bandung District Court Panel of Judges sentenced Pepen to 10 years in prison in a corruption case. This sentence is heavier than the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU), which is 9.5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion.

Not only that, the judge also sentenced Rahmat's assets to be confiscated, namely cars, buildings, and other goods. Then Rahmat was also sentenced to additional charges in the form of revocation of political rights to be elected for five years after serving his prison sentence.