Noel Ebenezer Rejects 5-Year Prison Sentence Demand: KPK Must Perform 'Sincere Repentance'
Jakarta, VIVA – The former Deputy Minister of Manpower, Immanuel Ebenezer, known as Noel Ebenezer, has rejected the five-year prison sentence demanded by the Corruption Eradasting Commission (KPK) prosecutors.
Noel expressed confusion, noting that he only received Rp3 billion, yet his demanded sentence is longer than that of other defendants who received significantly larger sums. He stated that the KPK must undergo ‘taubat nasuha’ (sincere repentance) following the demands made against him in the case involving alleged extortion related to Occupational Health and Safety (K3) certification at the Ministry of Manpower.
“This means that in the future, the KPK must, first, perform sincere repentance. They should not engage in framing or orchestrating stigmas. The logic is this: if there is an official who sides with the people, they simply apply a stigma, conduct an entrapment operation (OTT), and their future is ruined,” said Noel following the trial at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Monday, 18 May 2026.
During the session, Noel compared the prosecutors’ demands for himself with those of other defendants. Firstly, he pointed to Irvian Bobby Mahendro, the Coordinator for K3 Institutional and Personnel Affairs for 2022-2025, whose sentence differs from Noel’s by only one year, despite allegedly being involved in much larger corruption.
“Imagine, the one involved in Rp75 billion corruption is only facing 6 years. I, who am considered to have taken Rp3 billion, am facing 5 years. In that case, would you regret it? Of course, I regret it. It would be better if the one who corrupts the most is only one year apart from the one with the lower amount,” he said.
Furthermore, he cited defendant Hery Sutanto, Director of Institutional Development for 2021-February 2025, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison, a fine of Rp250 million (subsidised by 90 days of imprisonment), and restitution of Rp4,735,170,000 (subsidised by 2 years of imprisonment).
“Mr. Heri, involving only Rp4 billion, has a maximum sentence of 7 years. This is madness, I say; how does this law work? I honestly do not understand this logic. To be honest, whether it is 4 years or 5 years, being imprisoned for even 3 days feels like hell, let alone much longer,” he remarked.
Noel added that he is preparing a plea (pleidoi) to be read at the next hearing, scheduled for Monday, 25 May 2026. “It will certainly include the policies I have implemented that directly benefit the people,” Noel concluded.