"We declare the defendant guilty of having committed joint corruption based on the second alternative indictment," presiding judge Haswandi said at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday, as reported by kompas.com.

The sentence is lower than the 10-year sentence sought by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors.

The panel of judges found Andi guilty of abusing his authority to enrich himself in the Rp 2.5 trillion Hambalang sports complex graft case. According to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Hambalang case caused Rp 463.66 billion in state losses.

The panel of judges found Andi guilty of accepting a US$550,000 kickback for the project through his younger brother, Andi "Choel" Zulkarnain Mallarangeng.

Andi was also found guilty of enriching his corporations and enriching others, including former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, former director of PT Adhi Karya Teuku Bagus Mohammad Noor and also PT Dutasari Citra Laras president director Machfud Suroso, whose dossier is still being completed by the KPK. Anas is awaiting trial.

The presiding judge said that Andi's actions showed he did not support the government's corruption eradication programs. Andi maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

However, Haswandi said he and his colleagues on the bench had considered certain mitigating factors, namely the defendant's courteous demeanor throughout the trial, his lack of criminal record and that he had been awarded for his service during his time at the General Elections Commission (KPU). (fss)

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