Medan mayor gets 5 years for graft

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 09/22/2008 1:03 PM | National

Suspended Medan mayor Abdillah was sentenced Monday to five years imprisonment after being found guilty by the Corruption Court for embezzlement and causing losses to the state.

"He is found legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption," said presiding judge Edward Pattinasarani.

The panel of judges also fined Azmun Rp 250 million (US$27,000), or an additional six months in prison should he fail to pay the fine.

"The defendant is also obliged to pay Rp 17.86 billion in restitution to the state, one month after the verdict is legally endorsed, or face another four years in prison if he fails to pay the compensation," judge Edward said.

The sentence was lighter than that demanded by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors of eight years in prison and Rp 23 billion in restitution.

Edward said if the defendant could not afford to pay the compensation; the court would confiscate his assets and auction them off to raise the money.

Abdillah was found guilty in using Rp 26.9 billion of city budget for personal advantage in between 2002 and 2006.

Ahmad Yani, the defendant’s lawyer, said that his client has yet to decide whether to appeal the verdict. Under the court system, the defendant is given seven days to file an appeal. (dre)

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