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Biak Numfor regent gets 4.5-year prison term for graft
The Corruption Court handed over on Wednesday a four-and-a-half-year prison term to Biak Numfor Regent Yesaya Sombuk, who was found guilty of accepting bribes from a businessman
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he Corruption Court handed over on Wednesday a four-and-a-half-year prison term to Biak Numfor Regent Yesaya Sombuk, who was found guilty of accepting bribes from a businessman.
The panel of judges also slapped him with a fine of Rp 200 million (US$16,552), or an additional four months behind bars.
'The defendant was found legally and convincingly guilty of continually carrying out corrupt practices," presiding judge Artha Theresia said while reading the verdict, as quoted by tempo.co.
The panel of judges said that Yesaya had actively sought out money from businessman Teddy Renyut to pay debts incurred in his campaign to become regent.
Artha said the regent received money from Teddy twice, on June 13 and 16 at Acacia Hotel in Jakarta. Yesaya received S$37,000 ($29,100) in the first installment, while the second amount involved a payment of S$63,000.
Yesaya was caught red-handed by KPK officers as he received the money.
"The defendant is found guilty of having received a gift equal to Rp 1 billion so the sea embankment project in Biak Numfor would be given to PT PIP, owned by Teddy Renyut,' judge Afi Antara said while reading the verdict, as quoted by tempo.co.
Meanwhile, Antara news agency reported that the verdict was more lenient than the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s demand for 6 years' imprisonment and a fine of Rp 250 million, or an additional five months in prison, as well as revoking Yesaya's political right to be elected as a public official.
The judges denied the request to revoke Yesaya's political right saying that Indonesians were already smarter.
"It is the public who have the right to decide whether someone is suitable for public office," said judge Made Hendra.
Meanwhile, Teddy received a three-year-and-a-half-year prison term and a fine of Rp 150 million for bribing Yesaya. (tah/nvn)(++++)
