Prison for sewing machine cheats
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 07/14/2011 5:23 PM
Businessman Musfar Azis was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by the Corruption Court on Thursday for overcharging the Social Affairs Ministry for a contract to deliver sewing machines.
The Social Affairs Ministry directly appointed Musfar’s company, PT Ladang Sutera Indonesia (Lasindo), to procure the machines between 2004 and 2006.
“Musfar Azis is found guilty of corruption,” presiding judge Albertina Ho said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.
The judges also required him to pay Rp 13.2 billion (US$1.54 million) in compensation and a Rp 200 million fine or face an additional four months’ imprisonment.
“If the defendant fails to pay the compensation one month after the verdict is handed down, the state has the right to put his assets up for auction, or he can serve another four years in prison,” Albertina said.
Former social affairs minister Bachtiar Chamsyah was imprisoned for 20 months for approving the company’s direct appointment on the advice of his subordinate, Amrun Daulay, currently a suspect in similar case.
