Former Supreme Court Secretary Nurhadi Requests Acquittal in Gratuity and Money Laundering Case

Jakarta - Former Supreme Court (MA) Secretary Nurhadi has requested that the panel of judges acquit him in the case of alleged gratuity reception and money laundering (TPPU). “(We request that the panel of judges issue a verdict) acquitting Nurhadi from all charges,” stated one of Nurhadi’s lawyers while reading the duplicate plea during the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday (27/3/2016). In the duplicate plea, Nurhadi, through his legal team, emphasised that he was not involved in the criminal acts committed by his son-in-law, Rezky Herbiyono. “All business transactions were purely business transactions of Rezky Herbiyono or his agents,” said the lawyer. Furthermore, Nurhadi affirmed that his income over the years was legitimate, derived from his dedicated swiftlet farming business. Nurhadi’s side assessed that the public prosecutor did not clearly explain the origin of the TPPU money amounting to Rp 307.2 billion and US$50,000. “Whether it is illegal gain, that was not clearly explained in the prosecutor’s indictment,” said the lawyer. In this case, Nurhadi was sentenced to seven years in prison with a fine of Rp 500 million subsidiary 140 days in prison. The prosecutor stated that Nurhadi received gratuity money worth Rp 137.1 billion from parties involved in cases within the court environment, both at the first instance, appeal, cassation, and judicial review levels. This reception occurred while Nurhadi was still in office until after his retirement as MA Secretary. The gratuities were received by Nurhadi through accounts in the name of his son-in-law, Rezky Herbiyono, and several other names, including Calvin Pratama, Soepriyo Waskita Adi, and Yoga Dwi Hartiar. In this matter, Nurhadi is also alleged to have laundered money totaling Rp 308.1 billion, which includes Rp 307.2 billion and US$50,000 (equivalent to Rp 835 million at an exchange rate of Rp 16,700 per US dollar).