Six years in jail sought for regent<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau<\/p>\n
Prosecutors requested on Monday a six-year sentence for the
\nregent of the Riau Islands, Riau province, in a corruption case
\ninvolving Rp 3.4 billion (US$3.9 million).<\/p>\n
Reading out the charges against Huzrin Hood, prosecutor
\nFirmansyah also asked that the Tanjung Pinang District Court fine
\nhim Rp 200 million and immediately detain the defendant, who had
\nbeen released earlier, despite the charges against him.<\/p>\n
Huzrin has been accused of violating Law No. 31\/1999 on fight
\nagainst corruption.<\/p>\n
The regent must also return the Rp 3.4 billion he allegedly
\namassed for his personal fortune, Firmansyah said, and should
\nHuzrin fail to repay the money, the court should hand him an
\nadditional two years in jail.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors explained that the heavier sentences were
\nprompted by the defendant, who provided twisted statements during
\nthe trial.<\/p>\n
Huzrin was also found carrying a firearm to his first
\nappearance at court, and failed to set a good example as a
\nregent, Firmansyah added.<\/p>\n
The regent has been charged with embezzling from the 2001
\nbudget for the Riau Islands regency.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have already confiscated a store belonging to
\nHuzrin's wife and his five private cars.<\/p>\n
Hendie Devitra, one of the defense lawyers, dismissed the
\ncharges and said there were underlying political motives against
\nhis client.<\/p>\n
\"The charges laid by the prosecutors are very subjective.
\nEverything is based on their point of view. Just wait for our
\ndefense,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The panel of six judges -- presiding judge S. Joko Sungkowo,
\nJ. Purba, Yus E. Nidar, Bambang Edi and Syahlan -- adjourned the
\nhearing until Aug. 25, when the defendant and his lawyers will
\npresent their plea.<\/p>\n
As at previous hearings, some 800 people attended court on
\nMonday to hear the indictment against Huzrin.<\/p>\n
Most of the visitors were Huzrin's backers, who packed the
\ncourtroom to show support for the defendant. Shortly after judges
\nadjourned Monday's hearing -- held at the Kaca Puri Sports
\nBuilding in Tanjung Pinang -- they broke into a song of support
\nfor the defendant.<\/p>\n
Around 100 police officers were on guard at the trial, which
\nwas covered by at least 30 journalists from both print and
\nelectronic media.<\/p>\n
The trial opened on June 23, 2003, with at least 17 witnesses
\ndelivering their testimonies at court.<\/p>\n
The corruption case surfaced after the Supreme Audit Body
\nfiled a report on irregularities involving at least Rp 87.2
\nbillion of the 2001 budget for the Riau Islands.<\/p>\n
However, the Riau High Prosecutor's Office found that only Rp
\n3.4 billion were allegedly misused.<\/p>\n
The vast disparity between the figures provided by the
\nauditing body and the Riau Prosecutor's Office was apparently a
\nresult of their different auditing criteria.<\/p>\n
Huzrin had been detained by the Riau prosecutors in May 2003
\nfor five days at Pekanbaru prison for being uncooperative.<\/p>\n
He was then taken to the Tanjung Pinang Prosecutor's Office,
\nwhich later suspended his detention after the suspect paid Rp 175
\nmillion in \"assurance money\" -- to guarantee that he would not
\nevade the law -- to the local prosecutors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/six-years-in-jail-sought-for-regent-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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