{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1727190,
        "msgid": "six-defendants-in-alleged-baznas-enrekang-corruption-case-acquitted-1778254187",
        "date": "2026-05-08 21:27:11",
        "title": "Six Defendants in Alleged Baznas Enrekang Corruption Case Acquitted",
        "author": "",
        "source": "VIVA",
        "tags": "berita",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "Six former officials of the Baznas Enrekang chapter in South Sulawesi have been acquitted of corruption charges by the Makassar Corruption Court, with the judges ruling that the prosecution failed to prove any unlawful acts or malicious intent in the management of zakat funds. The decision, which includes the immediate release of the defendants from detention and restoration of their rights, highlights the judiciary's emphasis on evidence-based judgments, despite the six-month pre-trial detention endured by the accused. This outcome underscores the importance of mens rea in corruption cases and the careful evaluation of witness testimonies and expert opinions in the trial process.",
        "content": "<p>Makassar, VIVA \u2013 Six defendants in the alleged criminal corruption\ncase involving funds from the Baznas Enrekang chapter have been declared\nlegally free after the Corruption Court panel at the Makassar District\nCourt issued a not guilty verdict in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on\nFriday.<\/p>\n<p>The six defendants are former Baznas Enrekang Chairman Junwar, former\nActing Chairman Syawal, and Kamaruddin, Baharuddin, Ilham Kadir, and\nKadir Lesang, each former Deputy Chairman of Baznas Enrekang.<\/p>\n<p>Presiding Judge Johnicol Richard Frans Sine stated in the verdict\nthat the panel found the six defendants not proven to have committed the\ncriminal act of corruption as charged by the Public Prosecutor\n(JPU).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe defendants are declared not proven guilty in a lawful and\nconvincing manner of committing the criminal act of corruption jointly,\nas charged in the primary and subsidiary indictments,\u201d said Judge\nJohnicol through the decretal of the verdict.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the judges acquitted the defendants of all charges from\nthe JPU and ordered their immediate release from detention upon the\nreading of the verdict yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe defendants are acquitted from all charges by the public\nprosecutor. The defendants are ordered to be released from detention\nimmediately after this verdict is pronounced,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the verdict, the panel also restored the defendants\u2019 rights\nin terms of ability, position, dignity, and honour. All costs in this\ncase are to be borne by the state.<\/p>\n<p>The judges\u2019 consideration for issuing the acquittal verdict for the\nsix defendants was due to the lack of fulfilment of the unlawful element\nin this case, including no evidence of malicious intent or \u2018mens rea\u2019\nfrom the defendants. This is because the defendants were merely carrying\nout the management and distribution of zakat funds.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Chairman of the defendants\u2019 advisory team, Mahyuddin\nJamal, appreciated the Makassar Corruption Court panel\u2019s verdict, which\nassessed and decided this case carefully, clearly, objectively, and\nentirely based on the facts of the trial.<\/p>\n<p>This verdict reflects the independence and integrity of the\njudiciary, which comprehensively evaluated every piece of evidence,\nwitness statements, and expert opinions presented during the trial\nprocess. Despite the defendants having been detained for six months.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/six-defendants-in-alleged-baznas-enrekang-corruption-case-acquitted-1778254187",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}