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Five senior W. Papua officials face 18-month prison terms
Three leadership board members with the West Papua Legislative Council (DPRD), along with a businessman, are each facing prison terms of 18 months with fines of Rp 50 million (US$4,217) for their alleged involvement in a Rp 22 billion graft case
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hree leadership board members with the West Papua Legislative Council (DPRD), along with a businessman, are each facing prison terms of 18 months with fines of Rp 50 million (US$4,217) for their alleged involvement in a Rp 22 billion graft case.
The three have been identified as DPRD speaker Yosef Yohan Auri, deputy speakers Roberth Melianus Nauw and Demianus Jimmy Idjie, while the businessman is Mamad Suhadi, the director of private company PT Papua Doberai Mandiri (Padoma).
The four defendants, according to public prosecutors Frengky Son, Rina Hutagalung and Yos Salvador Reis, had been found guilty of violating Law No. 20/2001 on corruption.
The fifth defendant, Marthen Luther Ruimadas, who is also secretary of the West Papua provincial administration, is facing a longer prison term of two years and a fine of Rp 500 million, or an additional jail term of six months in the event of non-payment.
Aside from the five defendants, the graft case also implicates 41 other DPRD members, who are currently standing trial at the Jayapura Corruption Court.
Wednesday's trial hearing was presided over by judge Khairul Fuad.
The trial will hear that funding of Rp 22 billion, which was allegedly misused by the defendants, was part of PT Padoma's capital that had been allocated by the provincial administration as part of a program to improve people's welfare. The money was intended for natural resource management, development, trade and industry, and services.
PT Padoma was established on May 18, 2009, with basic capital of Rp 100 billion paid by the provincial administration.
The 41 councilors allegedly borrowed Rp 22 billion from PT Padoma in September 2010 to pay for personal expenses, such as their houses and cars, as well as to cover costs in relation to their constituents, with Idul Fitri, Christmas and the New Year holidays all imminent.
The loans from PT Padoma were disbursed after a discussion between defendants Auri, Nauw, Ruimadas and Mamad, who approved the loans.
The loans were disbursed in two overall payments of Rp 15 billion and Rp 7 billion.
Prosecutors said that based on Government Regulation No. 24/2004, speakers and members of regional legislatures received various perks and allowances.
By using PT Padoma's capital for loans to the DPRD members, the aim of generating income and improving public services were not met.
Meanwhile, Rahman Ramli, lawyer for the five defendants, said the indictment was unjust as this was not a criminal but a civil case, dealing with saving and borrowing. "Expert testimony also shows this is a civil case, so my clients should be acquitted of all charges," Rahman said.
He added that on Wednesday, Jan. 22, his clients were due to file their pleas in court and he said he hoped they would be taken into consideration by the panel of judges in reaching their verdicts. (krb)
