A panel of Jayapura Corruption Court judges has sentenced former Merauke regent John Gluba Gebze to a year in prison and fined him Rp 50 million after he was found guilty of graft relating to the procurement of souvenirs made of crocodile skin worth Rp 18 billion
panel of Jayapura Corruption Court judges has sentenced former Merauke regent John Gluba Gebze to a year in prison and fined him Rp 50 million after he was found guilty of graft relating to the procurement of souvenirs made of crocodile skin worth Rp 18 billion.
The panel, which comprised presiding judge Halim Dolman Sinaga and two other judges Petrus Maturbongs and Irianto P Utama, agreed that the defendant was proven to have abused his authority as regent and caused state losses.
The defendant was deemed to have clearly violated Law No. 20/2001 on anticorruption and the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Commenting on the ruling, both John's lawyer Iwan Niode and prosecutor Yazosisokhi Zebua said they would consult before issuing any statement regarding the ruling.
The ruling was lighter than the six years in prison and Rp 500 million fine requested by prosecutors.
The case originated when Merauke regency decided to give out crocodile skin souvenirs. John initially argued that giving away souvenirs was his way of promoting souvenir producers, but prosecutors disagreed, saying that John had not demonstrated a strong promotion strategy, with the venture representing a huge waste of money. (dic)
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