17 Years in Jail Demanded for Former Riau Governor

Pekanbaru, Riau (Antara) - The public prosecutor of Pekanbaru's Corruption Criminal Court in Riau province demanded 17 years imprisonment for graft defendant, former Riau governor Rusli Zainal. "We demand seventeen years in jail minus detention period and a fine of one billion rupiah for the defendant," stated public prosecutor Riyono in when reading his indictment during the corruption criminal court session here on Thursday. Rusli Zainal, has been detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged involvement in graft cases related to forestry and the organizing of the National Sports Week (PON). "We ask the panel of judges to also revoke certain rights (of the defendant) to elect and to be re-elected as a public official," he said. During the trial session, five public prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in turn read a 1,200 page indictment. Riyono said Rusli had knowingly and deliberately committed a series of actions violating the law in connection with forestry corruption and with regard to bribery in the PON Riau. Prosecutors remarked that the defendant in the forestry case can be proven to have violated Article 2, paragraph 1 and article 3 in conjunction with article 18 of Law No. 20/2001 in conjunction with article 55 paragraph 1 to-1 of the Criminal Code. On the case of giving and taking bribes on the implementation of the National Sports Week (PON), Rusli was charged under Article 12 letter a and Article 5 paragraph 1 or Article 11 of Law No. 20/2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to-1 of the Criminal Code. (*)