Amsal Sitepu Acquitted, Prosecutors Consider Appealing

The Karo District Prosecutor’s Office has stated that it is still considering the acquittal verdict for defendant Amsal Christy Sitepu in the alleged corruption case involving the production of village profile videos in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

Head of the Intelligence Section at the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office, Dona Martinus Sebayang, said that they respect the panel of judges’ decision to issue an acquittal for Amsal Sitepu, who is a videographer.

“We respect the judge’s decision. Next, we are still stating that we are considering for seven days regarding that acquittal verdict, and we will communicate with the leadership to determine the next legal efforts,” Dona said after the trial at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

Previously, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) from the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office, Wira Arizona, demanded that the defendant Amsal Sitepu be sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of Rp50 million, subsidiary three months’ imprisonment.

The prosecutor also demanded that the defendant pay restitution for state losses amounting to Rp202.16 million. If not paid within one month after the verdict gains legal force, the defendant’s assets will be seized and auctioned.

“If it is insufficient, it will be replaced with one year in prison,” he said.

In his demands, JPU Wira stated aggravating factors including the defendant not admitting his actions, being evasive during the trial, and not yet returning the state losses.

Meanwhile, the mitigating factor is that the defendant has never been convicted.

The prosecutor assessed that the defendant’s actions violated Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.

However, the Corruption Court panel at the Medan District Court decided that the defendant was not legally and convincingly proven to have committed the criminal act of corruption.

Presiding Judge Yusafrihardi Girsang stated that the defendant’s actions were not proven, either in the primary or subsidiary charges.

“Imposing an acquittal on the defendant because it is not proven that he committed the criminal act of corruption,” said Yusafrihardi at the trial at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court.

“Restoring the rights, dignity, reputation, and good name of the defendant,” he added.