“The defendant has deliberately been untruthful in [the investigation and trial of] the graft case,” Kresno read out the sentence demand at a hearing on Monday evening. He referred to the e-ID graft case, which reportedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$ 172 million) in state losses.  

Prosecutors also demanded that the judges order the defendant to pay a Rp 300 million fine or serve an additional six months’ imprisonment.

The conclusion was supported by witnesses who have testified that there were no indications Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators had pressured Miryam during their investigation into the e-ID graft case as she previously claimed, Kresno went on to say.

“Although she claimed she fabricated her testimony [because of pressure from investigators], her testimony was in fact in line with what had been stated by other witnesses,” Kresno said.

He further stated there were attempts from fellow lawmakers, including Golkar Party politician Markus Nari, to influence Miryam to retract her statements.

Miryam told the court in March that she retracted all statements she had given to KPK investigators, claiming she had made those statements under the intimidation of the investigators. The claim was dismissed by KPK investigators in their testimony in court on March 30.

Presiding judge Frangky Tambuwun adjourned the trial until Nov. 2 to hear the defendant’s defense plea. (ebf)

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