Former Pesawaran Regent Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Corruption

Former Pesawaran Regent Dendi Ramadhona has been sentenced to eight years in prison in a corruption case concerning the Pesawaran Regency Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) project for the 2022 fiscal year. The verdict was delivered by a panel of judges at the Corruption Court, led by Enan Sugiarto, at the Tanjungkarang District Court in Bandar Lampung on Wednesday (22/7). The panel of judges found the defendant Dendi Ramadhona legally and convincingly guilty of committing three offences simultaneously: joint corruption, receiving gratuities, and money laundering.

"Sentencing the defendant Dendi Ramadhona to imprisonment for 8 years and a fine of Rp750 million," said presiding judge Enan Sugiarto while reading the verdict on Wednesday (22/7). The panel of judges also ordered Dendi to pay restitution of Rp22.8 billion, reduced by a deposited amount of Rp3 billion that had been paid during the investigation and trial process. The sentence handed down by the judges was lighter than the demand of the Public Prosecutor, who had previously sought an 11-year prison term.

The case that ensnared the former Pesawaran Regent originated from the Pesawaran Regency Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) project for the 2022 fiscal year, with a contract value of Rp8.2 billion. During the trial, the prosecutor revealed that the project allegedly caused state losses amounting to Rp7.02 billion. In addition to corruption in the project’s execution, Dendi was also charged with receiving gratuities and committing money laundering, all of which were proven by the panel of judges. After the verdict hearing, Dendi apologised to the people of Lampung, particularly the residents of Pesawaran Regency. "To the people of Pesawaran Regency, I apologise for my shortcomings, mistakes, and oversights. Once again, I apologise, and as an ordinary human being, I am ready to be held accountable both in this world and the hereafter," Dendi told the media. Responding to the verdict, Dendi, through his legal counsel Sopian Sitepu, expressed appreciation for the trial process, which he deemed objective, before deciding on the next legal steps. "We thank the honourable panel of judges. After discussing with the defendant, we are considering our position on the verdict," said Sopian. The public prosecutor took a similar stance, choosing to use the seven-day period to study the complete verdict documents before deciding whether to appeal or accept the ruling. At the end of the session, Judge Enan Sugiarto reminded both parties that if no official stance is taken within seven days, the verdict will automatically become legally binding.