Facing 5-Year Prison Sentence, Former Deputy Minister Noel: I Should Have Corrupted More
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Minister of Manpower for the 2024–2025 period, Immanuel ‘Noel’ Ebenezer Gerungan, has admitted regret for not committing more extensive corruption, knowing he would face a lengthy 5-year prison sentence. He argued that the sentencing demand is not significantly different from other defendants who benefited from much larger sums of corrupt funds in the alleged extortion case involving Occupational Health and Safety (K3) certification processing.
‘Do I regret it? Of course, I do. It would have been better to corrupt as much as possible, since the difference is only one year compared to others,’ Noel stated after the sentencing hearing at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.
He cited the case of defendant Irvian Bobby Mahendro Putro, who was sentenced to 6 years in prison despite benefiting from Rp60.32 billion in corruption. Meanwhile, Noel is alleged to have only benefited from Rp4.43 billion. Similarly, defendant Hery Sutanto was sentenced to 7 years in prison for allegedly receiving Rp4.73 billion.
Despite the legal proceedings, the former Deputy Minister admitted that any prison sentence feels unbearable, noting that even three days in detention felt like ‘hell’. Consequently, the former official plans to prepare a defence statement (pleidoi) for the judge’s consideration. He stated that his defence would highlight various policies he implemented that directly benefited the public, particularly regarding the practice of withholding educational certificates, which continues to this day.
‘I still respect the Public Prosecutor (JPU) for their maximum effort; I must respect the JPU. But it is quite surprising that my sentence is only one year different from those involved in much larger corruption,’ Noel remarked.
Previously, Noel was sentenced to 5 years in prison, a fine of Rp250 million (subsidiary to 90 days in prison), and restitution of Rp4.43 billion (subsidiary to 2 years in prison). In the case of alleged extortion in the management of K3 certificates within the Ministry of Manpower and gratification during the 2024–2025 period, he was accused of extorting applicants for K3 certification or licences worth Rp6.52 billion and receiving gratifications.
The extortion was allegedly carried out by Noel alongside 10 other defendants, including Temurila, Miki Mahfud, Fahrurozi, Hery Sutanto, Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Irvian Bobby Mahendro Putro, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, and Supriadi. The 10 defendants were also faced with fines of Rp250 million each, subsidiary to 90 days in prison.
Furthermore, several defendants were ordered to pay restitution for the corrupt funds they received, including Hery (Rp4.73 billion), Subhan (Rp5.8 billion), Gerry (Rp13.26 billion), Bobby (Rp60.32 billion), Sekarsari (Rp42.67 billion), Anita (Rp14.49 billion), Supriadi (Rp19.81 billion), and Fahrurozi (Rp233.01 million), each with a subsidiary sentence of 2 years.
The alleged gratifications received by Noel included funds amounting to Rp3.36 billion and a blue Ducati Scrambler motorcycle, sourced from civil servants within the Ministry of Manpower and private parties during his tenure as Deputy Minister.
For his actions, the former Deputy Minister faces charges under Article 12 letter e or Article 12 letter b and Article 12 B juncto Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, as amended by Law 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 20 letter c and Article 127 paragraph (1) of the National Criminal Code.