Extorted Subordinates for Festive Bonus: Inactive Cilacap Regent Faces 7-Year Prison Sentence
The inactive Regent of Cilacap, Central Java, Syamsul Auliya Rachman, faces a seven-year prison sentence for extorting subordinates to secure ‘festive bonuses’ (THR) for officials within the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), totalling approximately Rp568 million.
Consequently, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) is also demanding that the defendant pay restitution in the amount of Rp568 million. “Imposing a prison sentence of 7 years on the defendant Syamsul Auliya Rahman,” stated KPK prosecutor Hidayat Nurudin at the Semarang Corruption Court on Tuesday (29/9).
“Imposing an additional penalty in the form of restitution amounting to Rp568 million to Syamsul, taking into account the funds already seized,” he stated in the indictment.
According to the prosecution, the trial has proven that Syamsul lawfully and convincingly committed corruption alongside the inactive Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Cilacap, Sadmoko Danardono, as regulated under the Corruption Eradication Law.
In addition to imprisonment, the prosecution is also demanding a fine of Rp400 million, which, if unpaid, will be substituted by 120 days of imprisonment.
Regarding the Forkopimda bonuses, prosecutors stated that the defendant instructed the Regional Secretary, Danardono, to prepare funds intended for the festive bonuses of Cilacap’s Forkopimda officials during Eid al-Fitr. The prosecution alleged that he forced various heads of Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD) to provide funds totalling Rp568 million.
The collected funds were placed in gift bags, pre-coded for the specific officials intended to receive them. The recipients included the Chief of Police, the District Military Commander, the Naval Base Commander, various police chiefs, the Head of the District Attorney’s Office, and the heads of the Religious and District Courts.
The prosecution assessed that the defendant had legally received the funds as they were under his control, noting that “the defendant knew and intended the receipt of the money.”
Furthermore, the prosecution is requesting the court to revoke the defendant’s right to be elected to political office. “Imposing an additional penalty on the defendant Syamsual Auliya Rachman in the form of revoking the right to be elected to public office for 3 years after the defendant has completed his primary sentence.”
The prosecution explained that this demand is based on Syamsul’s position as the Regent of Cilacap, a role directly elected by the people, which granted him public trust and regional authority. The move aims to prevent the executive branch of the Cilacap Regency, or any other public office, from being led by individuals previously convicted of corruption.
The court has granted the defendant the opportunity to present his defence in a future hearing.
Regarding the indictment for Regional Secretary Danardono, prosecutors have sought a lower sentence of 4 years in prison. In addition to imprisonment, Danardono is facing a fine of Rp200 million, which, if unpaid, will be replaced by 80 days of imprisonment.
The prosecution noted that an aggravating factor for Danardono was his failure to support government programmes for corruption eradication. Mitigating factors included his lack of prior criminal record, his admission of guilt, and his status as a crown witness.
KPK prosecutor Hidayat Nurudin explained that Danardono’s status as a crown witness was a key consideration in the lighter sentence. He added that the evidence linking Syamsul’s case to Danardono was supported not only by Danardono’s testimony but also by the testimonies of various regional assistants and heads of OPDs, which were found to be consistent.