The Corruption Court sentenced recently re-elected Boven Digoel regent Yusak Yaluwo to four years and six months in prison for graft.

Yusak was convicted for the procurement of a tanker ship and misappropriation of the regency budget between 2005 and 2007. His crimes were estimated to have cost the state up to Rp 66.7 billion (US$7.4 million).

“We hereby declare Yusak Yaluwo legally guilty of committing corruption,” the head of the team of judges, Hendri Agusten, said on Tuesday.

The judges found Yusak guilty of marking up the price of the ship and using the local budget for personal gain.

The judges also ordered Yusak pay Rp 200 million in fines, or face another six months in prison. He is also required to return Rp 45.72 billion he stole from the state.

Yusak has so far handed over Rp 1.83 billion to the Corruption Eradication Commission.   

The case began in 2005 when Yusak bought a ship worth Rp 3.5 billion from shipbuilder Alfred
Wibowo Korah to use for transporting fuel.

Yusak purchased the ship himself instead of appointing a procurement team (as stipulated by a 2003 presidential decree) and marked up the price to Rp 6.6 billion.

He borrowed Rp 6 billion from the Merauke branch of bank BRI with the help of businessman Johny Ramli Markus Sumoal since the purchase was not allocated in the 2005 local budget.

Later, Yusak returned the money using the 2006 local budget allocation for the transportation agency.  

Yusak was also implicated in the disbursement of local administration funds amounting to Rp 64.2 billion in 2006 and 2007. According to the ruling, from January 2006 to November 2007, Yusak ordered the disbursement of funds 45 times through his subordinates.

After the ruling, Yusak, who was surrounded by many of his supporters, remained calm. In court sessions last week Yusak could not hold back his tears while reading his defense plea.  

Yusak and his lawyers, as well as prosecutors, said they would consider whether to appeal the
ruling.

Siti Zuhro, a political expert from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said the verdict made Yusak’s position as regent legally flawed and that he should not be appointed as regent again.

“That would be the best decision, although there has been no final ruling on this case yet,” she said.

According to Siti, the President must suspend Yusak once a definite verdict is issued by the court.

“It would be better if he resigned from the post himself,” she said.

Yusak’s attorney, Marthen Pongrekun, said his team had asked the judges that Yusak be inaugurated as Boven Digoel’s regent, but they had yet to respond. (lnd)



The case began
in 2005 when
Yusak bought
a ship worth
Rp 3.5 billion
from shipbuilder Alfred Wibowo Korah to use for transporting fuel.

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