Indonesian Minister Was Sentenced to Three Years Imprisonment

Non-active Secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sport (Sesmenpora – Sekretaris Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga), Wafid Muharram, adjudged guilty of corruption. Wafid was sentenced to three years imprisonment with additional fine of IDR 150 million that can be replaced with a three-month confinement.

Sesmenpora - Wisma Atlet

The sentence for Wafid was announced by the judges at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday (12/19/2011). The head judge was Marsudin Nainggolan. Wafid was proven guilty for violating Article 5 Paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 5 Paragraph 1 letter b of Law on Corruption Eradication.

As a state organizer, he was proven receiving a check valued IDR 3.2 billion from El Mohamad Idris, Marketing Manager of PT Duta Graha Indah (PT DGI), and Mindo Rosalina Manulang, Marketing Director of PT Anak Negeri. The provision was given related to PT DGI’s winning on athletes homestead project contractors.

"After receiving the check, he handed it to Poniran (the witness) to be kept as soon as Idris and Rosa left the office of the defendant (Wafid)," said a member of the judge panel, Sofialdi.

Meanwhile, Wafid pleaded that the IDR 3.2 billion check is a bailout loan. This plea is not accepted. From the information gathered from the Witnesses during the trial, the judges indicated that the giving of the check is related to the commitment fee.

"As a state organizer, the defendant is prohibited from receiving any compensation. The defendant should refuse the offer, anyway the defendant argued that it is for loan or bailout," said Sofialdi.

The verdict against Wafid is less than the public prosecutor demands, i.e. six years in prison. Few considerations for giving lighter punishment are the fact that he is a state servants or civil servants and he was polite during the trial.

However, Wafid was guilty for not supporting government programs in combatting the corruption.
Responding to the verdict, Wafid will consider whether or not he will appeal. "My lawyer and me will have more intensive discussion. So, no comment regarding it yet today," he said.

Source: Kompas