Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah Transferred to Sukamiskin Prison
Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, convicted of gratification and extortion in connection with the 2024 regional elections, has been transferred from Class II A Bengkulu Prison to Class I Sukamiskin Prison.
The transfer was prompted by several reasons, primarily that his family is based in Jakarta and outside Bengkulu.
“There are important reasons that led us to request the transfer of our client, one of which is that his wife is mostly stationed in Jakarta and one of his children is still attending school in Depok,” said Aan Julianda, legal counsel for the convicted Mersyah, in Bengkulu on Monday (23 February).
He stated that Mersyah’s transfer was conducted in accordance with prevailing regulations and that his client remains compliant with the legal process and is serving his sentence as required.
Previously, the panel of judges at the Bengkulu Corruption Court sentenced former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah to 10 years’ imprisonment with a fine of Rp700 million, substitutable by six months’ imprisonment, in relation to the gratification and extortion case.
Mersyah was also handed an additional penalty requiring restitution to the state amounting to Rp39.6 billion, 72.15 US dollars and 349 Singapore dollars. Should he be unable to pay, his assets would be seized or the amount substituted with three years’ imprisonment, and his political rights would be revoked for two years following completion of his primary sentence.
“The court declares the defendant Rohidin Mersyah proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption as charged in the indictment and sentences him to 10 years’ imprisonment,” said Paisol, Presiding Judge of the Bengkulu Corruption Court.
Evidence seized by KPK prosecutors is to be auctioned to recover state losses, with the sentence reduced by time already served in detention since November 2024.
KPK prosecutors had originally sought a primary sentence of eight years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp700 million, substitutable by six months’ imprisonment, for the alleged gratification and extortion charges.
Mersyah was also subject to a prosecution demand for additional penalties comprising restitution to the state of Rp39.6 billion, 72.15 US dollars and 349 Singapore dollars, with asset seizure or a substitute three-year prison term if unable to pay, along with the revocation of his political rights for two years after serving the primary sentence.