{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1814018,
        "msgid": "indonesian-minister-proven-to-enjoy-corruption-proceeds-judge-hands-down-death-sentence-1781956237",
        "date": "2026-06-20 17:45:44",
        "title": "Indonesian Minister Proven to Enjoy Corruption Proceeds, Judge Hands Down Death Sentence",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Jusuf Muda Dalam, Indonesia's Minister for Central Bank Affairs from 1963 to 1966, was convicted of large-scale corruption and sentenced to death in September 1966. The court found he abused his authority to embezzle state funds, grant illicit import licences, and live a lavish lifestyle while the nation suffered economic collapse. He remains the first and only Indonesian minister to receive a death sentence for corruption, though he died in prison before the execution could be carried out.",
        "content": "<p>A major scandal involving a minister came to light in August 1966.\nJusuf Muda Dalam (JMD) abused his authority to enrich himself and\nothers. JMD served as Minister for Central Bank Affairs from 1963 to\n1966 in the Fourth Working Cabinet and the Dwikora Cabinet under\nPresident Soekarno. During his tenure, he was responsible for managing\nstate finances and formulating banking policy. However, minimal\noversight at the time left the door wide open for corruption. According\nto a case report titled \u2018Anak Penyamun di Sarang Perawan (Skandal JMD)\u2019\n(1966), JMD was involved in four offences. First, JMD granted import\nlicences through a Deferred Payment scheme to importing companies,\ninvolving the postponement of foreign credit payments for a set period,\ntotalling US$270 million. Second, JMD extended credit to certain\ncompanies, which led to a ballooning state deficit. Third, JMD embezzled\nstate funds, or revolution funds, amounting to Rp97.3 billion. Fourth,\nJMD smuggled weapons without a permit from Czechoslovakia. Proceeds from\nthese disgraceful activities were used for personal gratification. He\nwas known to have purchased houses, land, jewellery, and cars, and\nsquandered money on numerous women. It was revealed that 25 women\nenjoyed the fruits of his corruption, despite him already having six\nwives. The scandal immediately sparked public outrage, especially as\nIndonesia\u2019s economy was deteriorating at the time. Inflation skyrocketed\nand food prices soared. Amid the people\u2019s suffering, a high-ranking\nstate official named Jusuf Muda Dalam was living a life of luxury funded\nby corruption. On 30 August 1966, JMD\u2019s case was brought to court. The\ntrial was presided over by Chief Judge Made Labde with two member\njudges. To trace the flow of misused funds, the panel summoned many\nwitnesses. Every hearing drew intense public attention. The courtroom\nwas packed and often erupted with cheers when witnesses or the defendant\ngave testimony. The daily Mertjusuar (3 September 1966) recorded that\nthe trial atmosphere was almost always rowdy, as JMD continuously evaded\nvarious accusations. He admitted only one thing: his marriages resulting\nin six wives. \u2018Your Honour surely understands why I was in such a hurry\nto marry six times, after seeing how beautiful my wives are,\u2019 JMD told\nthe panel of judges. After days of proceedings, on 8 September 1966, the\npanel finally brought down the gavel. \u2018With full conviction and a sense\nof responsibility to God Almighty, I hereby sentence you to death!\u2019\ndeclared Chief Judge Made Labde, as quoted by the Mertjusuar newspaper\n(10 September 1966). The verdict was based on JMD being proven to have\nabused his position as Minister for Central Bank Affairs for large-scale\ncorruption, with state losses reaching billions of rupiah. His political\nbackground also served as an aggravating factor. The judge assessed that\nJMD had a communist background, reflected in internal policies at the\ninstitution he led, such as requiring the singing of the Internationale,\nreplacing the term \u2018karyawan\u2019 with \u2018buruh\u2019, and supporting the idea of\narming workers and peasants. The judge considered this akin to the\nbanned Indonesian Communist Party, which had been outlawed in 1966. The\nverdict also included the seizure of all assets, comprising four luxury\ncars, six houses, land, and other buildings. Nevertheless, some parties\nconsidered the sentence too lenient. PBNU Chairman KH Moch Dahlan even\nmade a scathing remark. \u2018The death penalty for JMD should not be just\nonce, but three times, or a death sentence by being hoisted on a gallows\nin front of the public,\u2019 he told the Mertjusuar newspaper (15 September\n1966). Unwilling to accept the verdict, JMD appealed to the Supreme\nCourt on 8 April 1967. However, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal\nand upheld the death sentence. Despite this, the execution was never\ncarried out. In September 1976, before facing the firing squad, JMD died\nin prison from tetanus. To this day, JMD is recorded as the first and\nonly corruptor sentenced to death in Indonesia.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-minister-proven-to-enjoy-corruption-proceeds-judge-hands-down-death-sentence-1781956237",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}