Noel Expresses Confusion Over Sentencing Disparities in OSH Case
Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, commonly known as Noel, is facing a five-year prison sentence in connection with an extortion case involving the management of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certificates at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker). The prosecution’s demand has left Noel bewildered.
According to reports from Tuesday (19/5/2026), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors believe Noel is guilty of receiving gratifications and engaging in extortion during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Manpower. “Sentencing the Defendant Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan to five years of imprisonment,” the prosecutor stated during the reading of the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court.
The prosecution also demands a fine of Rp 250 million, or an alternative of 90 days of imprisonment. Furthermore, Noel is required to pay restitution of Rp 1,435,000,000, following a deduction of the Rp 3 billion he has already returned. If the payment is insufficient, he faces an additional two years of imprisonment.
Prosecutors allege that Noel participated in receiving a portion of Rp 6.5 billion in illicit funds derived from OSH certificate processing. These funds were allegedly provided by other civil servants within the Ministry of Manpower who are also defendants in this case. The prosecution noted that the defendants Temurila and Miki Mahfud repeatedly provided funds totaling approximately Rp 6.58 billion to several officials, which were subsequently passed to Noel.
Aggravating factors in the prosecution’s consideration include Noel’s actions, which were deemed to undermine the government’s programme to establish a clean administration free from collusion, corruption, and nepotism. Mitigating factors include his admission of guilt, the partial return of funds, his clean criminal record, and his respectful conduct during the trial.
Noel is not the only individual facing prosecution. Other defendants include:
Irvian Bobby Mahendro, nicknamed the ‘Sultan’ of Kemnaker, facing 6 years in prison and restitution of over Rp 60 billion.
Fahrurozi, facing 4.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 233 million.
Hery Sutanto, facing 7 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 4.7 billion.
Subhan, facing 5.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 5.8 billion.
Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, facing 5.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 13.2 billion.
Sekarsari Kartika Putri, facing 5.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 42.6 billion.
Anitasari Kusumawati, facing 5.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 14.4 billion.
Supriadi, facing 5.5 years in prison and restitution of approximately Rp 19.8 billion.
Miki Mahfud, facing 3 years in prison and a fine of Rp 250 million.
Noel expressed his frustration regarding the sentencing disparities. He noted that the difference between his five-year demand and the six-year demand for Bobby Mahendro—who is accused of much larger corruption—is only one year. “Imagine, someone corrupting Rp 75 billion only gets 6 years, while I, accused of Rp 3 billion, get 5 years. It makes you regretful. It would be better to corrupt as much as possible if the difference is only one year,” Noel remarked after the trial.
He also questioned the sentence for Hery Sutanto, who faces 7 years despite allegedly receiving only Rp 4 billion. “I don’t understand the logic of this law,” Noel said.
Noel stated he intends to prepare his defence (pleidoi), where he plans to explain his policies that he claims benefited the public, such as regulations regarding the withholding of diplomas and outsourcing practices. He maintained that his actions did not cause state losses and that he did not steal a single rupiah of public money.