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span class="caption" style="width: 248px;">Kartini JM Marpaung: (Antara/R. Rekotomo)The Semarang Corruption Court sentenced judge Kartini Juliana Magdalena Marpaung on Thursday to eight years' imprisonment with a fine of Rp 500 million (US$51,546) or an additional five months in jail after being found guilty of accepting a bribe.

'She has been found guilty of committing corruption as in the primary charge,' presiding judge Ifa Sudewi said while reading out the verdict.

The judge said Kartini had accepted the bribe when hearing the case against former Grobogan Legislative Council speaker Muhamad Yaeni.

The eight-year sentence was more lenient than the prosecutors' demand for 15 years and a Rp 750 million fine or an additional 5 months in prison.

The panel of judges said Kartini had violated Article 12 (c) of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication as amended by Law No. 20/2001 on the same issue, as well as Article 55 (1) of the Criminal Code.

The court cited several incriminating factors against Kartini, such tarnishing the image of the law.

'She has tarnished and damaged the image of justice and violated the judges' ethical code,' Ifa said.

Mitigating factors included the fact that Kartini had never been convicted and that she had been polite throughout the trial, she added.

Responding to the verdict, both the prosecutors and Kartini said they would think about an appeal.

The secretary of the Central Java Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism Eradication and Investigation Committee (KP2KKN), Eko Haryanto, said that Kartini deserved the maximum sentence for her wrongdoing.

'Only heavy sentences will have a chilling effect on corrupt judges,' he said. 'So far, 17 witnesses have been heard in the trial of Sri Dartutik. They can all be named suspects, especially the members of the panel of judges that tried the case.'

The case dates back to Aug. 17, 2012, when two corruption court judges, Kartini and Heru Kisbandono of Pontianak Corruption Court, were caught red-handed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) while accepting a bribe.

The KPK also seized Rp 150 million in cash from Sri, who was also arrested. She was the sister of M. Yaeni, who at that time was being tried at Semarang Corruption Court by a panel of judges presided over by
Lilik Nuraini with Kartini and Asmadinata as members of the panel.

Heru and Sri were tried separately. Heru was sentenced to six years in prison and fined Rp 200 million or an additional four months in jail, while Sri was sentenced to four years' imprisonment plus a fine of Rp 150 million or an additional jail term of three months.

During the trial, Kartini denied accepting the bribe, saying that when the KPK made the arrests, no money was in her hands. The money was still in Heru's car and had yet been handed over to Kartini.

The other two defendants in the same case admitted the charges brought by prosecutors. Heru revealed how the bribery had been conducted, with him acting as a connector between Yaeni's family and the judges who were trying his case. He was also tasked with negotiating the sum of money to be paid and ensuring that the money was delivered to Kartini.