Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indonesian history records a minister being\nsentenced to death after being proven guilty in a massive corruption\ncase. The figure is Jusuf Muda Dalam, who served as Minister for Central\nBank Affairs from 1963 to 1966.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Muda Dalam was an economic figure with significant influence.\nBefore becoming a minister, he had a career in banking and was entrusted\nwith leading central bank affairs following the nationalisation of\nvarious financial institutions.<\/p>\n
A report on the case, known as the \u2018Anak Penyamun di Sarang Perawan\u2019\n(Bandit\u2019s Child in the Virgin\u2019s Nest) scandal in 1966, stated that JMD\nwas implicated in four matters. One of these was approving imports under\na Deferred Payment scheme for an importing company. The scheme involved\npostponing foreign credit payments for a certain period, totalling\nUS$270 million.<\/p>\n
The second case involved JMD\u2019s role in granting credit to certain\ncompanies. It turned out that this approval caused a state deficit.\nThirdly, JMD was accused of embezzling state funds or revolutionary\nfunds amounting to Rp 97.3 billion. Lastly, he was said to have smuggled\nweapons without a permit from Czechoslovakia.<\/p>\n
The corruption proceeds were used for personal gain, including\npurchasing houses, land, jewellery, cars, and women. At least 25 women\nwere reported to have enjoyed the proceeds of corruption, even though\nJMD already had six wives.<\/p>\n
Clearly, the scandal sparked public outrage. This was compounded by\nthe fact that the country\u2019s economic condition was deteriorating at the\ntime, with soaring inflation and skyrocketing food prices.<\/p>\n
Sentenced to Death<\/p>\n
JMD\u2019s case was brought to court on 30 August 1966. The trial,\npresided over by Chief Judge Jakim Made Labde, presented numerous\nwitnesses to trace the flow of funds. The courtroom was constantly\npacked as the trial drew significant public attention. The daily\nnewspaper Mertjusuar (3 September 1966) noted that the atmosphere in the\ncourtroom was almost always rowdy.<\/p>\n
JMD was reported to have continuously denied all accusations. The\nonly thing he did not deny was having six wives. \u2018Your Honour, you would\nsurely understand why I rushed to marry six times, after seeing the\nbeautiful faces of my wives,\u2019 JMD reportedly told the panel of\njudges.<\/p>\n
After a series of hearings, the panel read out its decision on JMD on\n8 September 1966. He was sentenced to death after being found guilty of\nabusing his position for large-scale corruption. The case also caused\nstate losses amounting to billions of rupiah. JMD\u2019s political background\nwas also a factor in the decision.<\/p>\n
\u2018With full conviction and a sense of responsibility to God Almighty,\nI hereby sentence you to death!\u2019 declared Chief Judge Made Labde, as\nquoted from the Mertjusuar newspaper (10 September 1966).<\/p>\n
The judge also considered JMD to have a communist background, evident\nfrom the internal policies at the institution he led. These included\nrequiring employees to sing the Internationale, replacing the term\n\u2018employee\u2019 with \u2018labourer\u2019, and supporting the idea of arming workers\nand farmers. What JMD did was considered exactly what the Indonesian\nCommunist Party, which was banned in 1966, had done.<\/p>\n
In addition to the death sentence, the judge also announced the\nseizure of four luxury cars, six houses, and other land and\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
JMD subsequently filed an appeal to the Supreme Court on 8 April\n1967. However, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal and upheld the\ndeath sentence. The execution was never carried out, however, as JMD\ndied in prison from tetanus in September 1976.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-minister-sentenced-to-death-for-corruption-assets-seized-1783219840", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }