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KPK to file appeal against court verdict on former youth and sports minister
The antigraft body said the seven-year prison sentence for Imam did not fulfill "the sense of justice" as prosecutors initially demanded 10 years for the former minister.
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Former youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi takes a seat before KPK prosecutor Ronald Worotikan reads out Imam’s indictment at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Feb. 14. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to file an appeal against the Jakarta Corruption Court's verdict sentencing former youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi to seven years' imprisonment for his involvement in a bribery case pertaining to a grant to the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI).
KPK acting spokesperson for law enforcement Ali Fikri said the sentence did not fulfill "the sense of justice" as prosecutors initially demanded 10 years for the former minister.
Furthermore, the restitution fee ordered by the court for Imam to pay was Rp 18.1 billion (US$1.2 million), lower than Rp 19.1 billion demanded by the KPK.
"Our prosecutors will describe the full rationale for the appeal in the appeal dossier that will be drafted soon and given to the Jakarta High Court through the Central Jakarta District Court," Ali said in a written statement published on Thursday.
"We hope the high court will rule in favor of the appeal."
In a verdict handed down on Monday, the Jakarta Corruption Court also ordered Imam to pay a fine of Rp 400 million -- which would be substituted for another three months of imprisonment if he failed to pay -- and stripped his right to run for public office for four years after he finishes serving his prison time.
Imam insisted on Monday that he had not been involved in the case. His attorney, Wa Ode Nur Zainab, said in a text message to The Jakarta Post on Thursday that her client would soon file an appeal against the ruling.
The KPK had accused Imam of accepting bribes during his term as minister from 2014 to 2019 to ensure his approval of a grant proposed by KONI to supervise several athletic events in 2018, including the 2018 Asian Games and the Asian Para Games.
He was accused of accepting Rp 11.5 billion in bribes and an additional Rp 8.64 billion in gratuities from a number of ministry and KONI officials. The bribes were reportedly given through Imam's personal assistant, Miftahul Ulum, who was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison on June 15.
In addition to Imam and Miftahul, the KPK named five other suspects in the case: former KONI secretary-general Ending Fuad Hamidy, KONI treasurer Johnny E. Awuy and ministry officials Mulyana, Adhi Purnomo and Eko Triyanto. They have all been convicted.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Imam Nahrowi’s attorney regarding a plan to appeal the verdict.
