Judge: Noel's Gratification Receipt Demonstrates Degradation of Integrity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Panel of Judges has ruled that the receipt of gratifications in the form of money and luxury goods by the Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) for the 2024–2025 period, Immanuel ‘Noel’ Ebenezer Gerungan, in the Occupational Safety and Health (K3) case within the Ministry of Manpower, demonstrates a degradation of morality and integrity.
In their legal considerations, Presiding Judge Nur Sari Baktiana stated that in his personal defence, Noel claimed to have demonstrated integrity and simplicity in performing his duties. “There is a clear contradiction between the narrative of a simple life presented by the defendant in his defence and the legal facts regarding the receipt of material goods, specifically money amounting to Rp3 billion and a Ducati motorcycle, as revealed during the trial,” said the Presiding Judge during the verdict reading at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday.
The Presiding Judge noted that throughout his term, Noel claimed to have consistently rejected state luxury facilities, such as business class services, opting for economy class on all official trips to maintain empathy with the common people. Furthermore, the Presiding Judge added that Noel consistently presented a social track record as an individual who grew up in hardship, working as a plastic cup collector and a car washer to fund his education. “This attitude shows that the defendant possesses moral integrity rooted in his life experiences as an orphan from an underprivileged family,” said the Presiding Judge.
However, the Presiding Judge assessed that the receipt of money and luxury goods in the case involving Noel demonstrates a degradation of morality and integrity, as well as negligence in upholding the trust that Noel himself admitted to violating with full regret. Nevertheless, the Panel of Judges appreciated the former Deputy Minister’s honesty in admitting he was not sufficiently careful in managing his relationships and professional environment, which led to a case that harmed public trust and the dignity of the labourers he was meant to defend.
“Consequently, the Panel of Judges considers the defendant’s personality and life values to be a strong social consideration for providing a proportional and humane sentence, which aims not only to punish but to provide space for self-improvement,” the Presaminng Judge stated.
In the case of alleged extortion in the processing of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certificates within the Ministry of Manpower and gratifications during the 2024–2025 period, Noel was proven to have received gratifications totalling Rp3.43 billion in non-technical fees for K3 certificate processing, as well as one unit of a Ducati Scrambler motorcycle. For his actions, Noel was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, a fine of Rp200 million (subsidised by 90 days in prison), and an additional penalty of paying Rp3.43 billion in restitution (subsidised by one year in prison).
Noel was found to have received gratifications alongside 10 other defendants in the same case, whose indictments were read in separate trials. The other 10 defendants include Temurila, Miki Mahfud, Fahrurozi, Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, Supriadi, Irvian Bobby Mahendro Putro, and Hery Sutanto.
As a result, the former Deputy Minister was found guilty of violating Article 12 letter b and Article 12 B in conjunction with 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.