Probosutedjo put behind bars
Probosutedjo put behind bars
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Business tycoon Probosutedjo, who is also the half-brother of
the country's former authoritarian president Soeharto, was sent
to the Cipinang Penitentiary on Wednesday to serve a four-year
jail term for embezzling state money, in what is seen as part of
the current government's drive to fight rampant corruption.
Probosutedjo becomes the second member of the Soeharto family
to be put behind bars. Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra, went to jail in 2000 for his involvement in the
killing of the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Soeharto
himself is facing graft charges allegedly committed during his 32
years in power, although the case against him is suspended due to
health reasons.
Probosutedjo's graft case, which centered on the misuse of
government reforestation funds, grabbed public attention not only
because of the involvement of a high profile figure, but also
because he announced in July that he had disbursed Rp 16 billion
(about US$1.6 million) in bribes to pay off judges and court
officials, including those at the Supreme Court who were handling
his appeal case. Chief Justice Bagir Manan, who was leading the
Supreme Court panel of judges handling the appeal, denied the
allegation. The bribery case is now being separately investigated
by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
A new Supreme Court panel of judges on Monday issued a four-
year sentence, upholding the 2003 ruling of the Central Jakarta
District Court. It also ordered the businessman to pay a Rp 30
million fine, and to return the embezzled funds to the state.
The Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday executed the
verdict, taking Probosutedjo from Pondok Indah Hospital in South
Jakarta where he was being treated for high blood pressure.
The hospital's team of doctors had earlier told the team of
prosecutors that Probosutedjo could not leave the hospital for
some days due to high blood pressure. But the prosecutors' team
of doctors were of another opinion, saying the criminal was fit
enough to serve the prison sentence.
Head of the Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office Rusdi Taher said
there would be no compromise, even though Probosutedjo was ill.
"I don't want to be cheated, because he's a wealthy
businessman who has the capability to flee, as has happened
before (in other cases)," Rusdi said.
Probosutedjo, 76, arrived at the Cipinang Penitentiary in East
Jakarta at around 3:30 p.m.
Officers at the penitentiary had earlier prepared a cell in
Block 3H for him -- the same block where former governor of Aceh
Abdullah Puteh and former State Logistics Agency (Bulog) head
Beddu Amang were incarcerated for other corruption crimes.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has made graft eradication
one of his top priorities.