Gangland style: Infamous gang leader Hercules Rosario Marshal leaves the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday
span class="inline inline-none">
The West Jakarta District Court has sentenced former gang leader Hercules Rozario Marshal, 55, to three years in prison and a Rp 50 million (US$4,324) fine for extortion and money laundering.
Presiding judge Prim Haryadi said during the verdict at the court on Thursday that Hercules had been found guilty of extorting businesspeople several times and conducting money laundering.
'The court sentences him to three years in prison,' he said.
The sentence is lighter than the five-year's imprisonment sought by prosecutors.
Hercules was indicted under Article 368 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on extortion and Article 362 of Law No. 8/2010 on money laundering.
The police had received reports from four individuals concerning more than Rp 900 million extorted by Hercules in the past two years.
One of the reports said Sukanto Tjakra, the director of property developer Tjakra Multi Strategi, was forced to hire Hercules' gang for its security services at Sukanto's development site in Kembangan, West Jakarta. Sukanto paid Hercules Rp 400 million in March in 2010. The request for the money was repeated in December 2012.
Hitting a former gang leader with money-laundering charges is a first, as in the past such charges have usually been leveled at corrupt officials, legislators, businesspeople and terrorists.
Hercules, however, insisted he was not guilty. Speaking after the verdict, the chairman of the mass organization known as the New Indonesian People's Movement (GRIB) said he would appeal.
'I did not receive the money because I intimidated, threatened or forced them. I received it based on a legal agreement that we made consciously and collectively,' he said.
Hercules said his clients had drafted the agreement, with him only signing it.
'I only did what they told me to do,' he said.
The convict said he had also asked the police to present the lawyers who drafted the agreement, but his request was never fulfilled.
'I, however, will still comply with the law,' he said.
Hercules' lawyer, OC Kaligis, said he had submitted the documents required for the appeal. 'Our target is full acquittal,' he said, adding that the charges were unproven.
Kaligis said the money Hercules received was payment for his work.
'There was no extortion or oppression. The money is also clearly from his client's company,' he said.
Kaligis said none of the witnesses told the court they had been threatened. 'They even promised Hercules a house, but they never fulfilled it,' he said.
This is the second verdict for Hercules in less than a year. He was earlier named a suspect along with 49 of his associates for multiple charges, including obstruction of justice. He was arrested again minutes after ending his four-month jail term in August for the current case.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.