JAKARTA: The Semarang Corruption Court in Central Java has sentenced suspended Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman to five years in prison for extorting heads of the local government agencies to raise money for holiday bonuses to regional officials.
Presiding Judge Rosana Irawati said on Tuesday (Nov 10) that Syamsul and suspended Cilacap Secretary Sadmoko Danardono had jointly orchestrated the extortion scheme.
“The defendant was found guilty of corruption committed jointly with others in violation of Article 12 of the Corruption Eradication Law and Article 55 of the Criminal Code,” Rosana said.
Syamsul was also ordered to pay Rp 568 million (US$ 312,000) in restitution and a fine of Rp 250 million. He was further stripped of his right to hold public office for two years after completing his prison sentence.
Sadmoko was sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rp 200 million for his involvement in the scheme. Syamsul’s sentence was below the seven years sought by prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), who had also requested a three-year ban on his holding public office.
Court proceedings and witness testimony showed that Syamsul sought to raise between Rp 500 million and Rp 700 million in March to provide holiday payments to members of the Cilacap Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), which comprises the local police chief, military district commander and head of the district prosecutor’s office.
He also planned to allocate payments to the local naval base commander, the heads of the district court and religious court, lower-ranking police commanders and section heads at the prosecutor’s office.
Syamsul instructed Sadmoko to summon heads of local government agencies and arrange the collection. Several officials and their assistants objected to the demands but eventually felt compelled to comply, fearing they would be transferred or removed from their positions.
To meet the demands, some officials used their personal savings, pawned their cars or diverted funds from their businesses. Others borrowed money from private parties or asked their subordinates to contribute.
The scheme raised about Rp 568 million, which was handed over to Syamsul on March 11. The KPK uncovered the scheme before the money could be distributed and arrested Syamsyul and Sadmoko in a graft raid on March 13. Investigators seized Rp 568 million in cash.
The judges ordered the seized money be returned to the agency heads, ruling that they had handed it over under pressure. Both Syamsul Auliya and Sadmoko said they would take time to consider whether to appeal the verdicts.
“I thank the panel of judges for carrying out their duties professionally. I also thank the people of Cilacap for their prayers and support, and for frequently attending the hearings,” Syamsul said.
Six of Central Java’s 35 regents and mayors have been arrested by the KPK this year over alleged corruption or extortion, including bribery cases.
They include Syamsul, former Pati Regent Sudewo, who was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison last month, suspended Pemalang Regent Anom Widiyantoro, suspended Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani, suspended Pekalongan Regent Fadia A. Rafiq and suspended Klaten Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo.
Nationwide, 15 regional leaders have been arrested in connection with various corruption cases this year. – The Jakarta Post/ANN
