Former judge handed 6 years for bribery

Former judge Imas Dianasari was found guilty of taking bribes and was handed six years in jail by a court in Bandung on Monday.

The judge panel at the Bandung Corruption Court also ordered the defendant to pay Rp 200 million (US$22,400) in fines in a court session that witnessed a barrage of curses from workers outside the courthouse.

The workers are taking the brunt of misfortune from Imas’ criminal act.

Imas, then a judge of an ad-hoc court in charge of industrial relations, was guilty of taking Rp 352 million of bribes in a verdict handed down on April 1, 2011, in favor of PT Onamba Indonesia, which faced a suit over the layoff of its 176 workers.

She was also caught accepting Rp 200 million from PT Onamba with an agreement that she would influence the verdict at the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the court also sentenced Odih Juanda, the company’s human resource development manager who handed the money to Imas, to four years in prison, six months less than prosecutors wanted.

The sentence of Imas was less than half of the 13 years sought by prosecutors at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

“The sentence was much higher than the demand against Odih Juanda of only 4.6 years, especially compared to other corruption cases, which caused the state to incur a significant amount,” presiding judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said in response to criticisms that the sentence was much lighter than that demanded by prosecutors.

The protesters outside the courtroom expressed their disappointment at the verdict.

“Go to hell to the judges! You are the culprit! Look at us workers who live in poverty as you easily commit corruption. Just wait for God’s wrath,” one of them cursed.

Singgih stated that the sentence should not be emotional but proportional, so as to educate, build, restore and serve as a deterrent.

“There is no area free from by corruption. Punishment is just a small part of the system to eradicate corruption,” he said.

Imas was caught receiving the money from Odih at a restaurant in Cileunyi, Bandung regency, on June 30, 2011, and was charged with violating Corruption Law No. 20/2001 on bribery.

Odih’s wife, children and office colleagues burst out crying, deeming the ruling unfair and that Odih was a victim of the extortion of judge Imas.

The KPK also confiscated PT Onamba’s Rp 200 million handed over to Imas, while it returned Imas’ cell phone and new car.