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Suryadharma Ali may lodge appeal, lawyer says
Disgraced: Former religious minister Suryadharma Ali listens attentively to questions raised by the judicial panel in his trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor)
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Disgraced: Former religious minister Suryadharma Ali listens attentively to questions raised by the judicial panel in his trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor). The former United Development Party (PPP) chairman is set to file an appeal over the courtâs decision to sentence him to a six-year imprisonment for his involvement in a graft case centered on the governmentâs haj programs from 2010 to 2013 after he was found guilty at the end of a trial on Monday. (Tempo) (Tipikor). The former United Development Party (PPP) chairman is set to file an appeal over the courtâs decision to sentence him to a six-year imprisonment for his involvement in a graft case centered on the governmentâs haj programs from 2010 to 2013 after he was found guilty at the end of a trial on Monday. (Tempo)
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span class="inline inline-center">Disgraced: Former religious minister Suryadharma Ali listens attentively to questions raised by the judicial panel in his trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor). The former United Development Party (PPP) chairman is set to file an appeal over the court's decision to sentence him to a six-year imprisonment for his involvement in a graft case centered on the government's haj programs from 2010 to 2013 after he was found guilty at the end of a trial on Monday. (Tempo)
Disappointed with the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) decision to sentence him to six years in prison over his involvement in a graft case, former religious minister Suryadharma Ali said he would likely appeal the verdict.
Suryadharma's lawyer Humphrey Djemat said on Tuesday that the United Development Party's (PPP) former chairman was likely to file an appeal over the Tipikor's verdict before Jan. 17, seven days after the trial took place.
'Our consultations have led to our client's intention to lodge an appeal,' Humphrey told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday afternoon.
He added that Suryadharma was considering appealing the court's verdict as he still maintained his innocence, a position the former minister has never changed.
'This is all about his principles, although the court's sentence is lower that what has demanded by prosecutors,' said Humphrey, adding that the former minister would 'struggle' to defend his principles.
At the end of his trial on Monday, the Tipikor's judicial panel sentenced Suryadharma to six years in prison and fined him Rp 300 million (US$21,544.02) for his involvement in a corruption case related to the government's haj program from 2010 to 2013.
The court's judicial panel, led by presiding judge Aswijon, also ordered the defendant pay a further Rp 1.8 billion (US$129,400) to replace the state losses caused by his act of corruption, or serve an additional two years.
The verdict was lower than what had been demanded by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors, who asked the judicial panel to sentence Suryadharma to an 11-year prison term and order him to pay a Rp 750 million fine.
"We declare that the defendant is guilty of corruption," Aswijon said as quoted by kompas.com during the trial at the Tipikor on Monday evening.
Humphrey said that in drawing its decision on the case, the judicial panel considered mainly the prosecutors' indictments and this was why Suryadharma is likely to lodge an appeal over the court's ruling.
However, the lawyer added that it was also possible for Suryadharma not to file an appeal. 'The decision solely depends on Suryadharma,' Humphrey added.
Suryadharma was charged and found guilty of abusing his authority as religious affairs minister in relation to the government's haj programs. He caused Rp 27.28 billion and 17.96 million Saudi riyals in state losses.
It was earlier reported that Suryadharma will have his rights as a public official revoked for five years after his prison term is finished.
During the haj programs, Suryadharma appointed people eventually deemed incompetent to be Saudi Arabia-based haj organizing committee (PPIH) officials and gave unused haj quota seats to people not on the official list.
Suryadharma also accommodated requests by House of Representatives Commission VIII, which oversees religious affairs, to enable certain people to go on haj free of charge and to appoint them to be PPIH members.
In addition, Suryadharma enabled relatives, staff members, private guards, his drivers and their wives to go on haj for free.
The KPK charged Suryadharma under articles 2(1) and 18 of Law No. 31/1999 in reference to Law No. 20/2001 on corruption eradication and articles 55(1) and 65(1) of the Criminal Code. (ebf)
