Former Ruling Party Leader Sentenced to 8 Years for Corruption

Jakarta (Antara) -- Former General Chairman of the ruling Democrat Party Anas Urbaningrum has been sentenced to eight years in prison and fined Rp300 million after he was proven guilty in a case of corruption. "Urbaningrum was convincingly and validly proven guilty of corruption and money laundering on several occasions," Chief Judge Haswandi said while announcing the verdict on Wednesday. Haswandi stated, "(Among facts that went) against his favor was that he, as a parliament (DPR) member, head of a DPR faction as well as party general chairman, had not set a good example to the people as a corruption-free state official, (had been accused of) collusion and nepotism, which did not support the government¿s drive to fight corruption and build a nation with a political system free from it, as well as collusion and nepotism." Urbaningrum had received a medal of merit in 1999, had never been jailed before and was always polite during court sessions. The eight-year sentence that he was awarded, as well as the Rp300 million fine was lower than the prosecutor's demand of 15 years in jail and Rp500 million as fine. Urbaningrum, however, is obliged to pay a compensation of Rp57.59 billion (US$5.26 million) failing which he will have to serve two additional years in jail. After the verdict was declared, Urbaningrum as well as the prosecutors asked for time to decide whether to file an appeal. (*) Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia