Regent gets two years in graft case<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Tanjung Pinang, Riau<\/p>\n
Riau Islands Regent Huzrin Hood has been jailed for two years for
\ncorruption involving Rp 3.46 billion (US$407,058) from the
\nregency's budget in 2001.<\/p>\n
The Tanjung Pinang District Court in Riau province also
\nordered Huzrin on Thursday to pay a Rp 200 million fine and repay
\nthe money he stole for personal gain.<\/p>\n
If he fails to pay the fine and return the Rp 3.46 billion,
\nhis jail term would be increased by 30 months, the panel of
\njudges said.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had sought a six-year jail term for Huzrin.<\/p>\n
\"I will appeal,\" Huzrin told the judges, presided over by S.
\nJoko Sungkowo who were accompanied by Yus E. Nidar, J. Purba,
\nSyahlan and Bambang Edi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, prosecutor Firmansyah said he and his colleagues
\nwere also considering an appeal.<\/p>\n
He said the judges had failed to take into account several
\nfactors, including that Huzrin arrived at court on the first day
\nof the trial carrying a pistol.<\/p>\n
Huzrin had also given conflicting testimony at the trial and
\nwas a \"negative example\" for the public, Firmansyah added.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors seized a store-house building and five vehicles
\nbelonging to the disgraced regent when the charges were first
\nlaid.<\/p>\n
The trial opened on June 23, with at least 17 witnesses
\ntestifying for and against the defendant.<\/p>\n
Thursday's session at the Kaca Puri Sports Hall was attended
\nby around 1,000 people and was tightly guarded by around 500
\npolice officers, including those from the police paramilitary
\nMobile Brigade from Batam island.<\/p>\n
The graft case against Huzrin was first exposed by the Supreme
\nAudit Body (BPK) in 2001, which revealed irregularities of Rp
\n87.2 billion in the administration's budget.<\/p>\n
But, the Riau Prosecutor's Office found that irregularities in
\nthe budget, which were subject to corruption investigations,
\namounted to only Rp 3.46 billion.<\/p>\n
Huzrin was detained at the Attorney General's Office last May
\nfor failing to cooperate with investigators. He was later flown
\nto the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, where he was detained for five
\ndays.<\/p>\n
The regent was then sent to Tanjung Pinang, but was bailed
\nafter paying Rp 175 million.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regent-gets-two-years-in-graft-case-1447893297",
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