The Jakarta High Court has increased the jail term awarded to Harvey Moeis, convicted in a tin trade corruption case linked to PT Timah, from 6.5 years to 20 years.
Chief Judge Teguh Arianto said that his office decided to award a more severe sentence following an appeal filed by public prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office.
“With this decision, the Jakarta High Court overruled the verdict issued by the Central Jakarta District Court,” he added while delivering the verdict on the appeal on Thursday.
He said that the court has decided to maintain the Rp1 billion (US$61.000) fine imposed on Moeis, but the alternative sentence has been increased from a six-month prison term to an eight-month term.
The court also slapped a compensation fee of Rp420 billion (US$25.6 million) or an additional 10 years in jail.
The new sentence is substantially more severe than the previous Rp210 billion compensation fee, with an additional two-year prison term as an alternative.
In issuing the verdict, the panel of judges considered several aggravating factors, including the fact that Moeis’ crime runs counter to the government’s commitment to eradicating corruption.
“The convict’s corruption crime is also seen as a blow to the people, considering the apparent unfavorable economic conditions,” Chief Judge Arianto stated.
On December 23 last year, a panel of judges of the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Moeis to 6.5 years in prison after declaring him guilty of colluding in corruption and money laundering. The prosecutors had demanded a 12-year prison term.
The penalty sparked nationwide anger, with the public demanding more severe punishment for the losses amounting to Rp300 trillion (US$18.3 billion) caused to the state.
The sentence also drew the attention of President Prabowo Subianto, who ordered the Attorney General’s Office to appeal against light sentences in corruption cases.
Prabowo emphasized that corruption convicts should be given heavy sentences and not provided any conveniences in prison.
Translator: Agatha O, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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