Former Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) head Rudi Rubiandini seemingly took the demands of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors for a 10-year sentence '€” for his alleged corruption and money laundering activities '€” in his stride Tuesday.

'€œOur examination has found the defendant was guilty of corruption and money laundering,'€ prosecutor Riyono told the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

After the hearing, Rudi, his face lit up by a media-friendly smile, spoke to reporters: '€œMy legal team and I are preparing my defense statement ready for the next session.'€ He said expected his defense statement to convince the panel of judges he was worthy of leniency.

Prosecutors have accused him of violating the 1999 Corruption Law, by accepting US$2.42 million from a number of local and foreign companies for allegedly rigging oil and gas tenders, as well as the 2010 Money Laundering Law for using the dirty money for his own gain and that of alleged middleman Deviardi, in addition to channeling cash to lawmakers supervising oil and energy at the House of Representatives.

The charges carry a maximum 20-year sentence.

Prosecutors claimed that Rudi was involved in more than six instances of illicit practices during his tenure from January to August, the month he was allegedly caught in the act of accepting a $400,000 bribe.

Among the allegations include bribes amounting to S$200,000 and $900,000 in bribes from the president of Singapore-based oil trading firm Kernel Oil, Widodo Ratanachaithong, through Deviardi, whom the KPK prosecutors also demanded be sentenced five years for his affiliation to Rudi'€™s activities.

Prosecutors allege Rudi laundered the bribe money through cars, homes and luxury watches.

Rudi is accused of instructing Deviardi to spend Rp 1.6 billion ($141,730) on a Volvo XC90; Rp 630 million on a Toyota Camry; and $11,500 on a Rolex watch as birthday gifts for Rudi'€™s wife. He is also accused of using the money to buy a house in Central Jakarta.

The prosecutors'€™ demand for Rudi was the lowest among his contemporaries who are currently serving time behind bars.

Last year, KPK prosecutors demanded 18 years for former national traffic police commander Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, who was later sentenced to 10 years for the part he played in a simulator-procurement graft case at the National Police; 18 years and 17.5 years for former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq and his aide Ahmad Fathanah, who were later sentenced to 16 years and 14 years respectively for a beef-graft case at the Agriculture Ministry.

Money-laundering expert Yenti Garnasih deplored the lenient demand, saying that Rudi might be handed down two-thirds of the demanded sentence by the panel of judges, which he approximated to be around six years.

'€œProsecutors should have taken into account exacerbating factors such him being a respected professor who allegedly committed corruption. When the alleged crime took place, he was still a state-owned Bank Mandiri commissioner who received a high salary [around Rp 80 million] per month,'€ she said adding that prosecutors should at least demanded a harsh punishment.

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