Acquittal in ASN Rice Procurement Case in Tabanan: Defendants Not Proven Guilty of Corruption

The defendants in the alleged corruption case regarding the procurement of rice for Civil Servants (ASN) at Perumda Dharma Santhika in Tabanan have been acquitted. The panel of judges at the Denpasar Corruption Court (PN Tipikor), chaired by Putu Gde Novyartha, stated that the defendants were not proven to have committed corruption as alleged by the public prosecutor (JPU).

“The panel declares that the defendants are not legally and convincingly proven guilty of the criminal act as charged by the public prosecutor. And acquits the defendants from all charges by the public prosecutor,” Novyartha emphasised while reading the verdict at PN Denpasar on Thursday (2/4/2026).

In its considerations, the panel of judges assessed that the elements of the corruption offence were not fulfilled. The judges also stated that no flow of funds into the personal pockets of the defendants was found.

The ASN rice procurement policy in Tabanan was deemed part of the regional company’s business decision. The judges viewed it as not an unlawful act to enrich oneself.

This verdict also closes the series of trials that were previously marked by the death of one defendant, namely the former Director General of Perumda, I Putu Sugi Darmawan. He passed away after undergoing treatment due to stroke and heart problems.

The legal process against the deceased has lapsed. Meanwhile, the other two defendants continued the trial until the verdict was read.

The other two defendants are I Ketut Sukarta, as Chairman of the Tabanan Perpadi DPC, as the rice supplier partner. Then I Wayan Nonok Aryasa, as Retail Business Unit Manager of Perumda, who handled the technical aspects of distribution and programme management.

It is known that this case stemmed from the ASN rice procurement programme through cooperation between Perumda and Perpadi Tabanan. In the prosecutor’s charges, medium-quality rice was said to have been sold as premium rice, causing alleged state losses of around Rp 1.85 billion from a total transaction of Rp 18.21 billion.

For those charges, the defendants were previously demanded prison sentences of four years each, along with a fine of Rp 200 million subsidiary to one year imprisonment. However, the panel of judges held a different view and stated that there were no elements of mens rea or personal gain in this case.

The defendant’s legal counsel, Hari Wandono, stated that he fully accepts the panel’s verdict. He assessed the cooperation between Perumda and Perpadi as a normal and mutually beneficial business relationship.

“We have no intention to appeal, we accept it. From the judge’s verdict, all defendants are acquitted from their charges,” said Hari. With this acquittal, the defendants who were undergoing legal proceedings have their rights restored.