JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced bribe defendant Artha Meris Simbolon, a 37-year-old President Director of PT Parna Raya Industri, to three years in prison, lighter than the prosecutor’s demand of 4.5 years imprisonment.
In the Thursday’s (Nov. 20) trial, panel of judges concluded that Artha Meris has been proven guilty for bribing former Head of the the powerful Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (SKK Migas) Rudi Rubiandini.
In addition, panel of judges also ordered Arthe Meris to pay Rp100 billion in fine or serving additional three months imprisonment, also lighter than the prosecutor’s demand of Rp150 billion in fine.
As reported earlier, Artha Meris was named as suspect in SKK Migas scandal on May 14, 2014. During Rudi’s verdict trial on Apr. 29, panel of judges have mentioned that Rudi had received, among others, US$522,500 bribe money from Artha Meris.
KPK has charged Artha Meris with Article 5 Paragraph 1 letter a or b or Article 13 of the Anti-Corruption Law.
Rudi, meanwhile, had been sentenced to 7 years in prison after proven guilty for receiving bribe money. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)