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.