Former SKK Migas Chief Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Graft

Jakarta Globe, Novianti Setuningsih, Apr 29, 2014

Rudi Rubiandini, former head of Indonesian energy regulator SKKMigas,
 speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in Jakarta in this March 6,
2013 file photo.(Reuters Photo/Enny Nuraheni)

Jakarta. The Anti-Corruption Court sentenced Rudi Rubiandini to seven years in prison on Tuesday, after the former head of oil-and-gas regulator SKK Migas was found guilty of accepting bribes from energy companies.

“The defendant has been found guilty of corruption and money laundering,” presiding judge Amin Ismanto told the court on Tuesday.

The court also ordered Rudi to pay Rp 200 million in fines or serve an additional three months in prison.

Rudi cried in court when the verdict was read. He said he accepted the decision and would not file an appeal.

Judge Purwono Edi Santosa said Rudi had received S$200,000 ($159,591) and $900,000 from Widodo Ratanachaitong, the president director of Kernel Oil, and from Fossus Energy, through Kernel’s operational director, Simon Gunawan Tanjaya.

Rudi was also found guilty of receiving $522,500 from Artha Meris Simbolon, the director of Kaltim Parna Industri, a manufacturer of ammonia.

Rudi allegedly used the money buy a Volvo XC90 worth Rp 1.6 billion ($142,400); a house in Tebet, South Jakarta, worth Rp 2 billion; a Rolex Datejust watch worth $11,500 for his wife Elin Herlina; a Citizen Echo Drive Saphire watch for himself; and a Toyota Camry worth Rp 669 million.

Prosecutors had sought 10 years for Rudi, who had admitted taking bribes but denied the money-laundering charges.

In a separate trial, Rudi’s golf trainer, Deviardi, was found guilty of delivering the bribe money and sentenced to serve four years and six months in prison.

Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court presiding judge Matheus Samiaji said the trainer was also guilty of money laundering on Rudi’s behalf.

Prosecutors said Deviardi had taken cash from Widodo and Artha and delivered it to Rudi.