Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors on Wednesday demanded the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court to sentence the former Indonesian ambassador to the United States, Sudjadnan Parnohadingrat, to three years in prison for graft
orruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors on Wednesday demanded the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court to sentence the former Indonesian ambassador to the United States, Sudjadnan Parnohadingrat, to three years in prison for graft.
The KPK prosecutors had earlier indicted Sudjadnan for malfeasance, self enrichment and enriching other people.
'We appeal to the panel of judges to declare the defendant guilty of corruption for violating Article 3 of the 2001 Corruption Law on malfeasance,' KPK prosecutor Sri Kuncoro Hadi said on Wednesday.
Prosecutors accused Sudjadnan ' who was the Foreign Ministry's secretary-general when the alleged wrongdoing occurred ' of engaging in corruption together with the ministry's finance bureau head, Warsita Eka, and the ministry's budget division head, I Gusti Putu Adnyana. The three stand accused of rigging projects in the staging of 12 international events at the ministry between 2004 and 2005.
In the indictment, KPK prosecutors said that Sudjanan had instructed Warsita and Putu to falsify reports pertaining to the 12 international events, resulting in state losses of Rp 12 billion (US$1 million). The losses allegedly resurfaced as illegally benefits for a number of officials at the ministry, including Sudjanan, Warsita, Putu and former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda.
According to prosecutors, Sudjadnan received Rp 330 million; Hassan Rp 440 million; Warsita Rp 15 million; Putu Rp 165 million; ministry budget division head Suwartini Wirta Rp 165 million; and ministry secretary Rp 110 million. Other high ranking ministry officials received Rp 1.4 billion.
Two private firms, PT Pactoconvex Niagatama and PT Royalindo, allegedly received a total of Rp 1.6 billion, while another Rp 1.4 billion reportedly aided in the financing of activities during the 37th ASEAN ministerial meeting.
KPK prosecutors did acknowledge, however, that some of the international events staged by Sudjadnan had positively impacted the country at a time when it was reeling from the Boxing Day tsunami and the Bali bombings.
'Through the international events, the defendant successfully petitioned countries to donate to the Aceh recovery effort,' KPK prosecutor Sri said.
Sudjadnan has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying he was a victim and had never received any money in connection to the alleged graft.
He pointed the finger at Warsita and Putu, saying they were the ones who should be held responsible for irregularities in accounting or implementation of the events.
'I am merely a victim. This is horrible,' Sudjadnan said after the hearing.
Earlier, Sudjadnan denied the allegation that his former boss, Hassan, had benefitted from the rigging of the projects.
In January 2011, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Sudjadnan to one year and eight months in prison for his role in the marking-up of the renovation costs for the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore between 2003 and 2004.
He was released on parole in 2012 and then promptly arrested again in connection with the current case.
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