Two big corrupters get multi-year jail sentences

Two big corrupters get multi-year jail sentences

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

A court in South Sulawesi has handed down heavy jail sentences to
two officials found guilty of embezzling around Rp 40.913 billion
(US$4.813 million) in taxes from state-owned oil firm Pertamina
and cement company PT Semen Tonasa.

The Makassar District Court sentenced Iwan Zulkarnain, an
official with the local post office, to 16 years jail.

The court also jailed his accomplice, Asriadi, an official at
the Makassar tax office, for 10 years, and fined the two
defendants Rp 100 million each. Failure to pay the fines will
result in an additional three-month-jail term.

The panel of judges led by Andi Haedar, who is the head of the
court, also ordered Iwan to pay Rp 27 billion and Asriadi Rp 13
billion in compensation for the losses to the state. Otherwise,
two and one years will be added to the sentences respectively.

Prosecutors have confiscated five cars, two motorcycles,
including one Harley Davidson, a plot of land and a house, and
money from several bank accounts belonging to the defendants.

The prosecutors had sought 20 years in jail for Iwan and 15
years for Asriadi.

The judges said the two defendants were proven to have
"legally and convincingly committed corruption together" from
January 2001 to July 2002.

Haedar said that based on the testimonies of witnesses, Iwan
was assigned to collect the taxes from the two companies and
deposit the money in the form of cross-checks to his personal
bank account.

Meanwhile, Asriadi filed tax forms with his office as proof
the companies had already paid the taxes, the chief judged added.

Asriadi admitted to receiving Rp 13 billion of the money,
while Iwan got the rest. The two used the money to buy cars,
motorcycles, plots of land and houses.

The pair said they would consider appealing the verdicts.