Prosecutors Demand 10-Year Prison Sentence for Prabumulih KPU Chairman
Palembang (ANTARA) - The Public Prosecutor (JPU) has demanded a 10-year prison sentence for the Chair of the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Prabumulih, South Sumatra, in connection with an alleged corruption case involving funds for the 2024 regional elections amounting to Rp26 billion.
The demand against Marta Dinata, Chair of the KPU Prabumulih for the 2024–2029 period, was presented by the JPU during the trial at the Class 1A Special Corruption Court in Palembang on Monday.
“Chair of the KPU Prabumulih for the 2024–2029 period, Marta Dinata, is demanded a 10-year prison sentence, accompanied by a fine of Rp800 million subsidiary 6 months’ imprisonment. She is also required to pay restitution of Rp3.91 billion. If not paid, it will be replaced with 5 years’ imprisonment,” said the JPU.
In addition, the KPU Secretary Yasrin Abidin and the Commitment Making Official (PPK) Syahrul Arifin were also found guilty in their involvement in the case.
“All three have been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing the criminal act of corruption as regulated in the Corruption Eradication Law,” said the JPU.
Meanwhile, the other two defendants, Yasrin Abidin and Syahrul Arifin, are each demanded 8 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, with a fine of Rp500 million subsidiary 3 months’ imprisonment. Both are also burdened with paying restitution of around Rp3.8 billion, which if not fulfilled will be replaced with 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment.
In the indictment, the prosecutors revealed various methods of deviation in the management of regional election grant funds amounting to Rp26.38 billion sourced from the Prabumulih City Regional Budget. The funds were disbursed in two stages, in November 2023 and May 2024.
Several violations committed included changes to the budget cost plan (RAB) without approval from the local government, implementation of budget revisions without official procedures, direct appointment of third parties without a tender mechanism, and financing of activities outside the initial planning.
Furthermore, budget inflation, diversion of funds from cancelled activities, and preparation of accountability reports that did not comply with regulations were found.
Based on the audit results from the Prabumulih City Inspectorate, these actions caused a state financial loss of Rp11.8 billion. Although there was a remaining budget of around Rp1.45 billion that has been returned to the regional treasury, the prosecutors emphasised that this does not eliminate the criminal element.
After the reading of the demands, the defendants through their legal counsel stated that they would submit a defence note (plea) at the next hearing scheduled for next week.