Setyabudi Tejocahyono: (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators have arrested Setyabudi Tejocahyono, a Bandung District Court judge, for allegedly accepting Rp 150 million (US$15,395) in bribes.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that Setyabudi, who is the deputy chairman of the court, was apprehended at his office in Bandung, West Java, with an individual identified as A — an employee from a private company — at around 2:15 p.m.

Johan said the investigators had been watching A before the man entered Setyabudi’s office.

“We followed A, who traveled to the court by car, for one hour before the arrest. A was later seen walking around the courtyard before heading to SET’s [Setyabudi] office,” Johan said.

KPK investigators apprehended A immediately after the man left Setyabudi’s office.

“In his office, we confiscated Rp 150 million wrapped in newspaper,” Johan went on, adding that the KPK had found an additional Rp 100 million in A’s car.

It was alleged that A attempted to bribe the judge in relation to the embezzlement of social funds in a case currently being tried the Bandung Administrative Court.

After arresting both men, KPK investigators also nabbed HNT and PPG, two Bandung administration officials. The four were taken to the KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, for further questioning.

HNT was identified as Hery Nurhayat, head of the Regional Assets and Financial Supervisory Agency (DPKAD), while PPG was identified as Pupung, a treasurer with the DPKAD.

Johan said that he had yet to uncover the exact roles the two officials played in the case.

“The KPK has 24 hours to determine the status of the four men,” Johan said.

Setyabudi has been deputy chairman of the Bandung District Court since April 2012.

He was previously head of the Tanjung Pinang District Court, Riau Islands, and just received a Supreme Court decree regarding his next assignment as a judge at the Padang High Court in West Sumatra.

During his 11-month tenure in Bandung, Setyabudi handled a number of major corruption cases. He was the presiding judge of the corruption case involving seven defendants in the misappropriation of social funds from the budget of Bandung municipality.

He gave each of the defendants one-year prison terms, while the sentences demanded by prosecutors had been for three and four years.

He had also recently given a light sentence of eight months and 10 days on Thursday to the defendant in a gratuity case, despite prosecutors’ demands for a two-year sentence.

Commenting on Setyabudi’s arrest, the Judicial Commission (KY) conveyed its appreciation to the KPK and also expressed regret that the judge allegedly committed such a disgraceful deed, especially after the recent increase in judicial salaries.

“The KY asks that this be used by the judicial institution to mend itself,” KY spokesperson Asep Rahmat Fajar said.

The KY, according to Asep, has asked that the Supreme Court temporarily dismiss Setyabudi as soon as possible — and, if he is convicted, permanently dismiss him and to have him disbarred.

Judges implicated in bribe claims

Name : Herman Allositandi
Position : South Jakarta District Court
Allegation : Extorting money from witness in graft trial (arrested Jan. 9, 2006)

Name : Ibrahim
Position : Jakarta Administrative Court
Allegation : Accepting Rp 300 million bribe (arrested March 30, 2010)

Name : Muhtadi Asnun
Position : Tangerang District Court
Allegation : Accepting US$40,000 bribe from Gayus Tambunan (arrested May 7, 2010)

Name : Syarifuddin Umar
Position : Central Jakarta District Court
Allegation : Accepting Rp 250 million bribe (arrested June 1, 2011)

Name : Imas Dianasari
Position : Bandung Industrial Relations Court
Allegation : Accepting bribes (arrested June 30, 2011)

Name : Heru Kusbandono
Position : Pontianak Corruption Court
Allegation : Accepting Rp 150 million bribe (arrested Aug. 17, 2012)

Name : Kartini Marpaung
Position : Semarang Corruption Court
Allegation : Accepting bribes (arrested Aug. 17, 2012)

Name : Ahmad Yamani
Position : Supreme Court
Allegation : Conspiring with court registrar to cut drug lord’s sentence.

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