Pati Regent Sudewa Faces 8.5-Year Prison Sentence

Semarang (ANTARA) - The Public Prosecutor (JPU) has demanded an 8.5-year prison sentence for the inactive Regent of Pati, Sudewa, the defendant in a case involving alleged corruption in projects at the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) and the recruitment of village officials in the regency.

During the trial at the Semarang Corruption Court on Monday, prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also demanded that the defendant pay a fine of Rp300 million, which, if unpaid, will be replaced by 100 days of imprisonment.

In their indictment, the prosecutors stated that the defendant was proven guilty of violating Articles 12 (b), 12 (B), and 12 (E) of Law Number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the eradication of criminal acts of corruption.

In the detailed indictment, prosecutors stated that the defendant was proven to have abused his authority and position as a member of Commission V of the DPR from 2021 to 2022, as well as during his tenure as the Regent of Pati.

Regarding the alleged DJKA corruption case, prosecutors assessed that the defendant was proven to have received bribes amounting to Rp1.3 billion, as well as gratifications in the form of money and goods with a total value of Rp2.3 billion.

“There was close cooperation between the defendant and parties within the DJKA to manipulate tenders so that they were won by companies predetermined from the outset,” the prosecutor stated during the session presided over by Chief Judge Edwin Pudyono.

Three other defendants in the case—the Village Heads of Karangrowo, Sukorukun, and Arumanis—are alleged to have extorted several village official candidates, with evidence amounting to Rp2.4 billion seized by the KPK.

In their considerations, prosecutors assessed that the defendant’s actions have damaged public trust in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and local government.

“The defendant does not admit to his actions,” the prosecutor noted.

Prosecutors also demanded an additional penalty for the defendant to pay state losses amounting to Rp3.6 billion in restitution, which, if unpaid, will be replaced by three years of imprisonment.

Furthermore, the prosecution requested that the judge revoke the defendant’s right to be elected to public office for five years, to be served after the completion of the primary sentence.

Following the indictment, the judge permitted the defendant to present his defence in the hearing scheduled for two weeks from now.