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View all search resultsVideographer demands justice as he faces graft trial over project pricing
The videographer, Amsal Christy Sitepu, was named a suspect in November last year after authorities accused him of inflating production costs, allegedly causing state losses of Rp 202 million.
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camera film documentary movie (Shutterstock/Virrage Images)
A
videographer in North Sumatra is seeking justice as he stands trial in a corruption case involving a Rp 600 million (US$35,250) contract to produce 20 village profile videos in Karo Regency, drawing widespread public scrutiny over the country’s justice system.
The videographer, Amsal Christy Sitepu, was named a suspect in November last year after authorities accused him of inflating production costs, allegedly causing state losses of Rp 202 million.
Prosecutors, citing estimates from state auditors and inspectors, argue that each video should have cost around Rp 24 million, rather than the Rp 30 million charged under the contract.
They further allege that several budget components were unjustified. Among them is a Rp 2 million allocation for concept development, which auditors claim should have cost nothing. Similar claims have been made regarding expenses for microphones, editing and dubbing, which experts and auditors also assessed as should have no cost.
In the ongoing trial, prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison sentence, a fine of Rp 50 million and restitution of Rp 202 million to cover the alleged state losses.
Amsal’s legal representative, Willyam Raja, argued that the prosecution has no basis for charging his client with graft, noting that all 20 village heads who testified at the trial confirmed their agreement with the project’s pricing.
“There were no complaints from any of the village heads. All funds were agreed upon from the start, and the work and documentation were completed without objection. So where is the wrongdoing by my client?” Willyam told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
