“We also ordered the defendant to pay Rp 200 million (US$15,042) in fines or serve an additional two months in prison,” presiding judge Ibnu Basuki read out the verdict on Friday.

Siti was proven guilty of abusing her authority in the procurement of medical equipment for the Center for Health Problems (PPMK) in 2005, causing more than Rp 6 billion in state losses.

Siti is also said to have accepted bribes amounting to Rp 1.9 billion and Rp 1.3 billion, respectively, from PT Graha Ismaya finance director Sri Wahyuningsih and the same company’s president director, Masrizal Achmad Syarif, in the form of traveler’s checks.

Apart from the fines, Siti must return an outstanding Rp 550 million to the state after previously returning Rp 1.35 billion, as required in the sentencing of her subordinate, Rustam Pakaya. 

Rustam, a former health ministry crisis center chief, was found guilty of abusing his authority in the medical equipment procurement for the crisis center in 2007, causing Rp 21.3 billion in state losses. Rustam was also sentenced to four years in prison. 

When reporters asked whether she would appeal the verdict, Siti answered: “I don’t know. I don’t think so.” (kuk/dmr)

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