Regent gets two years in graft case

Regent gets two years in graft case

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Tanjung Pinang, Riau

Riau Islands Regent Huzrin Hood has been jailed for two years for
corruption involving Rp 3.46 billion (US$407,058) from the
regency's budget in 2001.

The Tanjung Pinang District Court in Riau province also
ordered Huzrin on Thursday to pay a Rp 200 million fine and repay
the money he stole for personal gain.

If he fails to pay the fine and return the Rp 3.46 billion,
his jail term would be increased by 30 months, the panel of
judges said.

Prosecutors had sought a six-year jail term for Huzrin.

"I will appeal," Huzrin told the judges, presided over by S.
Joko Sungkowo who were accompanied by Yus E. Nidar, J. Purba,
Syahlan and Bambang Edi.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Firmansyah said he and his colleagues
were also considering an appeal.

He said the judges had failed to take into account several
factors, including that Huzrin arrived at court on the first day
of the trial carrying a pistol.

Huzrin had also given conflicting testimony at the trial and
was a "negative example" for the public, Firmansyah added.

Prosecutors seized a store-house building and five vehicles
belonging to the disgraced regent when the charges were first
laid.

The trial opened on June 23, with at least 17 witnesses
testifying for and against the defendant.

Thursday's session at the Kaca Puri Sports Hall was attended
by around 1,000 people and was tightly guarded by around 500
police officers, including those from the police paramilitary
Mobile Brigade from Batam island.

The graft case against Huzrin was first exposed by the Supreme
Audit Body (BPK) in 2001, which revealed irregularities of Rp
87.2 billion in the administration's budget.

But, the Riau Prosecutor's Office found that irregularities in
the budget, which were subject to corruption investigations,
amounted to only Rp 3.46 billion.

Huzrin was detained at the Attorney General's Office last May
for failing to cooperate with investigators. He was later flown
to the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, where he was detained for five
days.

The regent was then sent to Tanjung Pinang, but was bailed
after paying Rp 175 million.