Businessman Tubagus Chaeri âWawanâ Wardana, the younger brother of suspended Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, admitted during a hearing of his trial on Monday that he helped a candidate in a local-election dispute bribe former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar
usinessman Tubagus Chaeri 'Wawan' Wardana, the younger brother of suspended Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, admitted during a hearing of his trial on Monday that he helped a candidate in a local-election dispute bribe former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar.
In his defense statement delivered at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, Wawan said that he was naive and was unaware that it would implicate in his older sister Atut.
Closing his statement, Wawan begged the panel of judges not to give him a hefty prison term.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors have sought 10 years behind bars for Wawan for his role in bribing Akil.
Prosecutors have also sought 20 years for three additional graft and money-laundering charges.
'I am deeply remorseful following my action. What makes me feel more guilty was that my sister Atut has also been wrongly implicated in this case due to my actions,' Wawan said.
In spite of his admission, Wawan maintained his sister was not implicated in the case because he was responsible for forcing Susi Tur Andayani, the lawyer of candidate Amir Hamzah, to lend him Rp 1 billion (US$84,898) to bribe Akil.
Prosecutors said in the indictment that it was Atut who gave the instruction to help Amir retain control of Lebak regency, a regency where the governor had less control.
Monday's defense statement was Wawan's response to KPK prosecutors' sentence demands. He will appear in court again for sentencing next week.
In his defense statement, Wawan said that Amir should also be named a suspect in the case as 'it was Amir who came up with the idea to bribe Akil.'
KPK prosecutors have also indicted Wawan, the husband of South Tanggerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, for allegedly paying Rp 7.5 billion in bribes to Akil to secure the victory of his sister Atut in the 2012 Banten gubernatorial election.
The KPK are also investigating three other cases; graft cases surrounding the procurement of medical equipment for the Banten and the South Tangerang administrations as well as a money-laundering case.
In relation to Wawan's alleged money laundering, the KPK has confiscated his assets, including 83 luxury cars purportedly bought with money collected illegally from a number of state projects organized through Airin and Atut's offices.
KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the confiscation of Wawan's alleged illicit assets was far from over.
'The investigation into the money-laundering case is still ongoing. We're not done,' Johan said.
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