Noel Expresses Confusion Over Sentencing Disparities in Corruption Case
Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, alias Noel, has expressed bewilderment regarding the disparity in prosecutorial demands in a case involving gratification and extortion related to Occupational Health and Safety (K3) certification. Noel noted the discrepancy between his five-year prison demand and that of the former Ministry of Manpower official, Irvian Bobby Mahendro, who was sentenced to six years despite allegedly being involved in a Rp 75 billion corruption case.
“Imagine, those involved in Rp 75 billion corruption only get six years. I, who am accused of Rp 3 billion, get five years. Do I regret it? Of course, I do. It would be better to corrupt as much as possible if the difference is only one year,” Noel stated following the sentencing hearing at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (18/5/2026).
Noel also commented on the seven-year sentence demanded for defendant Hery Sutanto, Director of Institutional Development from 2021 to February 2025. Noel argued that the sentence was disproportionate given that Hery allegedly received only Rp 4 billion, which is significantly lower than Bobby’s involvement. “It is also a pity for Mr Hery; only Rp 4 billion and the punishment is the highest at seven years. This is madness. I do not understand the logic behind this law,” he remarked.
Noel announced his intention to prepare a personal defence statement (pleidoi). In this defence, he intends to explain his policies that he claims benefited the public, such as practices regarding the withholding of diplomas and outsourcing regulations that he argues exploited labourers. He maintained that his actions did not cause state losses and that he did not steal a single rupiah of public money.
Previously, prosecutors demanded a five-year prison sentence for Noel, asserting his guilt in the gratification and extortion case involving K3 certificates at the Ministry of Manpower. The prosecution also demanded a fine of Rp 250 million, with a subsidiary of 90 days of imprisonment. Furthermore, Noel was ordered to pay restitution of Rp 1,435,000,000, after accounting for the Rp 3 billion he had already returned. Failure to pay would result in an additional two-year prison term.
Prosecutors believe Noel participated in receiving funds from a total of Rp 6.5 billion in illegal non-technical payments related to K3 certification processing. These funds were allegedly distributed by other Ministry of Manpower civil servants who are also defendants in the case. The prosecution’s aggravating factor cited Noel’s failure to support government programmes for clean governance, while mitigating factors included his admission of guilt, the partial return of funds, his clean criminal record, and his respectful conduct during the trial.