NTB High Prosecutor's Office Appeals Acquittal of MXGP Samota Land Appraisal Team
The West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor’s Office is challenging the acquittal of two corruption defendants in the land procurement case for the MXGP circuit in Samota, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara. Prosecutors have lodged an appeal with the Mataram District Court.
“The two individuals released by law — the public prosecutor today declared an appeal through the Mataram District Court’s e-berpadu system. The appeal has been registered,” said Muhammad Harum Al Rasyid, Head of Legal Information at the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday (20/8/2026).
The two defendants are Pung Saifullah Zulkarnaen, head of a Public Appraisal Services Office (KJPP), and Muhammad Jan, head of a KJPP branch. They served as the land appraisal team for the MXGP land acquisition.
In addition to the appeal, both defendants have been released from detention, in accordance with the order of the Mataram Corruption Court panel of judges.
“Both defendants have been released. We will continue with the appeal,” Harum said.
As previously reported, the two defendants in the MXGP Samota land procurement corruption case were acquitted. The Mataram Corruption Court, chaired by Lalu Moh Sandi Iramaya, ruled that the defendants’ actions constituted only an administrative violation and not a criminal offence. The defendants immediately prostrated in gratitude and embraced each other upon hearing the verdict.
“The court finds that defendant Muhammad Jan and defendant Pung Saifullah Zulkarnaen are proven to have committed the acts as charged, but these do not constitute a criminal offence,” Sandi said while reading the verdict at the Mataram District Court on Wednesday evening (19/8/2026).
Defendant Pung Saifullah Zulkarnaen is the head of a Public Appraisal Services Office and Muhammad Jan is a KJPP branch head. Both were members of the land appraisal team for the MXGP circuit land acquisition.
“The court therefore releases both defendants from all legal charges,” he added.
The judges also ordered the immediate release of both defendants from detention. “The court orders the relevant authorities to restore the defendants’ official status, positions and professional licences to their original state once this ruling has permanent legal force,” he said.