Medan District Court Judge Acquits Amsal Sitepu Due to Unproven Corruption

Medan (ANTARA) - The panel of judges at the Corruption Court of the Medan District Court has issued an acquittal verdict for Amsal Christy Sitepu, deeming him not guilty of corruption in the village profile video production project in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. “Imposing an acquittal verdict on Amsal Christy Sitepu because he is not proven to have committed the criminal act of corruption,” stated Chief Judge Yusafrihardi Girsang in Courtroom Cakra Utama at the Medan District Court on Wednesday. The panel of judges in the verdict’s operative part opined that the defendant’s actions were not proven, as per the charges from the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office (JPU), both primary and subsidiary. “Restoring the defendant’s rights and rehabilitating the dignity, honour, and good name of the defendant Amsal Sitepu,” said Yusafrihardi. This verdict differs from the demand by JPU Wira Arizona, who previously sought a two-year prison sentence for the defendant Amsal. “Requesting that the panel of judges impose a sentence on the defendant Amsal Christy Sitepu of two years’ imprisonment,” stated JPU Wira Arizona during the previous trial session. In addition to the custodial sentence, the JPU from the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office also demanded that the defendant Amsal Sitepu pay a fine of Rp50 million, with the provision that if not paid, it would be replaced by three months’ imprisonment. “The defendant is also demanded to pay restitution of Rp202,161,980. If not paid within one month after the verdict gains legal force, the defendant’s assets will be seized and auctioned to cover the state losses,” said Wira. If insufficient, he continued, it would then be replaced by one year’s imprisonment. Aggravating factors for the defendant’s actions include not admitting his deeds, being evasive during the trial, and not yet repaying the state financial losses. “Meanwhile, the mitigating factor is that the defendant has never been convicted,” he said. The JPU from the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office considered the defendant’s actions to violate Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001. “The defendant’s actions are believed to be proven as committing the criminal act of corruption as per the subsidiary charge,” said Wira.