Former DJKA PPK sentenced to 7.5 years in prison

The Panel of Judges at the Medan District Court has sentenced former Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the Class I Medan Railway Engineering Centre, Muhammad Chusnul, to seven years and six months in prison in a bribery case involving the Medan–Binjai–Aceh railway line project. “Adjudicating, imposing a sentence on the defendant Muhammad Chusnul with imprisonment for seven years and six months,” said Chief Judge Khamozaro Waruwu at the Medan District Court on Monday. The verdict was heavier than the demand by public prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), who had previously sought a six-year prison term. The panel of judges declared Chusnul legally and convincingly proven to have received bribes related to the Medan–Binjai–Aceh railway line construction project during the 2021–2023 period, with the total bribe value reaching Rp13.08 billion. In its ruling, the panel stated the defendant violated Article 12 letter b in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. “If the fine is not paid, it shall be replaced with a custodial sentence of 100 days,” the judge said. The panel also ordered the defendant to pay a replacement sum of Rp13.08 billion, reduced by Rp150 million that had been entrusted to the KPK. The remaining replacement sum must be paid within one month after the verdict becomes legally binding. If not paid, the defendant’s assets will be confiscated and auctioned to cover the obligation. Should the proceeds be insufficient, the defendant must serve a substitute prison sentence of three years. In its considerations, the judge assessed that the defendant’s actions contradicted efforts to eradicate corruption and hindered railway infrastructure development, impacting the public interest.