Councillor released over gambling case

Paper Edition | Page: 5

North Sumatra Legislative Council member Palar Nainggolan, along with Suspendi, the head of the North Sumatra-Aceh region for PT Pos Indonesia, and two businessmen, Fahruddin and Hanafi Sani, were declared innocent in the Medan District Court.

The verdict was handed down by presiding Judge ET Pasaribu, who said it had not been proven that the four defendants were involved in gambling. He said that the four defendants only played cards.

“The defendants were proven not guilty in the gambling case. They are released from all charges,” said Pasaribu on Wednesday.

Previously, prosecutor Marina Surbakti said that the defendants had been gambling at a restaurant at the Martabe Golf Course in Tuntungan on the evening of May 5.

She said that they were caught red-handed by police, who seized two decks of playing cards and Rp 1.1 million (US$120) in cash. She went on to say that the defendants had violated Article 303 of the Criminal Code and could face two years in prison if found guilty.

Pasaribu said that the cash that was found on the table was not used for gambling, but rather to pay for the food. Marina planned to file an appeal with the Supreme Court following the verdict.