Atut Sentenced to Four Years in Jail for Bribing Top Judge

Jakarta Globe, Rizky Amelia, Sep 01, 2014

Ratu Atut Chosiyah, the suspended governor of Banten, was sentenced to
four years in jail on Monday. (Antara Photo/Vitalis Yogi Trisna)

Jakarta. The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Monday sentenced suspended Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah to four years in prison for bribing disgraced Constitutional Court Chief Justice Akil Mochtar to sway the results of an election dispute.

“[We] declare defendant Ratu Atut Chosiyah as being validly and convincingly guilty of [practicing] joint corruption,” presiding judge Matheus Samiadji said. “[We] sentence the defendant to four years imprisonment [and to pay] a Rp 200 million [$17,000] fine, or spend an additional five months in jail.”

Matheus said Atut had failed to act in support of the government’s fight against corruption, but added that the judges had also taken into consideration her role as a mother and as a grandmother in her family.

Despite being substantially lighter than the 10-year imprisonment and Rp 250 million fine initially sought by prosecutors, Atut maintains her sentence was unfair.

“It is clearly not fair,” she said, adding that one of the five judges at the court had voiced a dissenting opinion and called for her acquittal. “One judge had acquitted me.”

Atut, who maintained her innocence, has been found guilty of paying Akil Rp 1 billion to issue a favorable ruling in a Lebak election dispute, a scandal that has also implicated her brother Tubagus Chaeri Wardana Chasan and lawyer Susi Tur Andayani — both of whom have been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

The money was meant to overturn the results of the Lebak district election and make Amir Hamzah, Atut’s chosen candidate, the winner.

The prosecution has confirmed it will appeal Monday’s verdict.

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