Noel Admits Guilt and Regrets in Plea Hearing for K3 Certification Corruption Case

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, known as Noel, expressed admission and remorse during the plea hearing for an alleged extortion case in the management of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certification.

In his plea, Noel admitted guilt and expressed regret before the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, 25 May 2026.

“In the presence of Your Honour, I want to start with the simplest, most direct, and most honest statement. I was wrong. I admit my fault. I regret it,” Noel said.

“I regret that as a public official, I should have safeguarded my responsibilities much better, with greater caution,” he explained.

He also stressed that he would not seek justification for his actions or attack others during the ongoing legal process.

“I will not justify my mistake. I will not undermine the legal process. Nor will I attack anyone,” he stated.

“I am making this admission not just empty words. I understand that true regret does not stop at words.”

During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor stated that Noel was proven to have committed corruption as charged.

“The defendant Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan shall be sentenced to five years in prison,” the prosecutor said in court.

The prosecutor noted that Noel failed to support government efforts to eradicate corruption.

“The aggravating factor is that the defendant did not support government programmes aimed at achieving a clean administration free from collusion, corruption, and nepotism,” the prosecutor added.