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.