Defendants in Ministry of Defence Satellite Case Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison; Prosecutors Considering Appeal
The panel of judges at the Jakarta High Military Court II has found two defendants guilty in the corruption case involving the procurement of the 123-degree east longitude orbit slot satellite for the Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) between 2012 and 2021. Prosecutors are currently considering an appeal against the verdict.
The judicial panel, chaired by Major General TNI Lokal Arwin Makal, sentenced the former Head of the Defence Facilities Agency of the Ministry of Defence and acting Commitment Making Officer (PPK), Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Leonardi, to 2.5 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of IDR 500 million, or an additional 140 days of imprisonment in lieu of payment.
Meanwhile, an American citizen, Anthony Thomas Van Der Hayden (ATVDH), was sentenced to 2 years in prison. Thomas was also fined IDR 500 million, or an additional 140 days of imprisonment.
“The panel of judges has declared that the defendants are proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption as regulated under Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code,” stated the Head of the Attorney General’s Office’s Public Relations Centre, Anang Supriatna, in a written statement on Sunday (30/8/2026).
He noted that the public prosecutors have not yet determined their stance regarding the verdict, which was read on Thursday (27/8).
“Regarding this decision, the connectivity prosecution team has stated they are considering their options. The prosecutors appreciate the judges’ decision, which is deemed objective and just in recovering state financial losses resulting from a procurement process that was non-transparent, non-accountable, and did not meet contract specifications,” he added.
Previously, the two defendants were charged with causing state losses of USD 21.3 million, or approximately IDR 306.8 billion. The auditors stated that the actions of the defendants forced the state to settle invoices with Navayo International. Navayo International was also reported to have filed for the seizure of Indonesian assets in France as a consequence of the defendants’ actions.
“The actions of Defendant I, Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Ir. Leonardi, M.Sc., together with Defendant Thomas Anthony Van Der Hayden and Mr. Gabor Kuti Szilard, resulted in ICC CASE No.24072/HTG dated 22 April 2021, whereby Mr. Gabor Kuti Szilard holds a claim right. This arbitration ruling created an unpaid obligation for the Indonesian state, leading Mr. Gabor Kuti Szilard, as the CEO of Navayo International AG, to file for the seizure of the assets of the Republic of Indonesia located in Paris, France,” he said.
The sentence is lower than the prosecution’s initial demand. In their indictment, prosecutors had requested that the judges impose prison sentences of 8 years each and a fine of IDX 750 million for both Leonardi and Thomas Anthony.