NTB Chief Prosecutor Views Verdicts for Three MXGP Land Case Defendants as Contradictory
Mataram (ANTARA) - The Chief Prosecutor of West Nusa Dissemination (NTB), Wahyudi, has described the verdicts for three defendants in the corruption case involving the procurement of land for the MXGP Samota Circuit in Sumbawa Regency as contradictory, as one defendant was sentenced while the other two were acquitted of all legal charges.
“Regarding the verdict, one was sentenced to prison, whereas the other two were declared ‘onslag’ (acquitted of prosecution); in my view, this is contradictory,” Wahyudi stated in Mataram on Thursday.
He referred to the verdict against the former Head of the Sumbawa National Land Agency (BPN), Subhan, who was found guilty of committing corruption that resulted in state losses. In contrast, Pung Saifullah Zulkarnain and Muhammad Jan, acting as land appraisers, were released from all legal prosecution (onslag van alle rechtsvervolging).
“On the other hand, it was stated that there were no state losses. Yet, the individuals responsible for the calculation (land valuation) were those two (Pung Saifullah Zulkarnain and Muhammad Jan),” he added.
Despite this assessment, Wahyudi stated that his office respects the decision made by the Corruption Court at the Mataram District Court.
According to him, both the defendants and the public prosecutors still have further legal recourse if they do not accept the first-instance court’s decision.
“We are maximising further legal efforts and are currently in the process of an appeal,” said Wahyudi.
The Mataram District Court had previously received an appeal from the public prosecutor regarding the verdict for the three defendants.
Acting Chairman of the Mataram District Court, Kelik Trimargo, stated on Friday (28/8) that the court had also received an appeal from the defendant, Subhan.
On that basis, the panel of judges acquitted the two individuals of all legal charges and ordered the restoration of the dignity of both the defendants and the company they work for, namely the Public Appraiser Service Office (KJPP) Pung’s Zulkarnain.
In the verdict against Subhan, the panel of judges ruled that the former Head of BPN Sumbawa was proven to have abused his authority and position to enrich others, resulting in state losses of IDR 6.7 billion.
The panel of judges stated that Subhan was proven to have violated the prosecutor’s subsidiary indictment related to Article 604 in conjunction with Article 20 letter a of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.
Subhan was sentenced to one year and three months in prison and a fine of IDR 50 million, or alternatively 50 days of imprisonment.
In its ruling, the panel of judges ordered that the funds identified as overpayments for the land procurement be returned to the treasury of the Sumbawa Regency Government.