Civil servant convicted for bribery in forest conversion

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 09/01/2008 2:41 PM  |  Headlines

FOUND GUILTY: Bintan regency administration secretary Azirwan, a bribery case defendant, listens to the Corruption Court's verdict on Monday (JP/J. Adiguna). Bintan regency administration secretary Azirwan on Monday was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for giving Rp 2.25 billion (US$247,500) in bribes to lawmakers for a forest conversion permit.

The Corruption Court found Azirwan guilty of bribing legislator Al Amin Nur Nasution so the House of Representatives would allow the forest conversion, which was to open land for the regent's new capital, early this year.

Al Amin is a member of the House Commission IV, which oversees forestry, agriculture and fisheries. The lawmaker, who has denied his involvement in the crime, is currently on trial at the same court.

Azirwan said he had not decided whether to appeal the decision. The court gave him seven days to make up his mind.

The court's verdict was lower than the three-year imprisonment demanded by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors.

The panel of judges said the mitigating factors lowering the sentence were that the defendant admitted and regretted his crime, he was cooperative during the trial and that he had served more than 28 years as a civil servant. (dre)

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