TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) Chief Muhammad Yusuf, admitted that he was disappointed with the verdict reached by the Sorong District Court in West Papua, which dismissed the money-laundering charges against Police Sr. Brig. Labora Sitorus.
"I'm disappointed and this is proof that the judges are not well informed about money-laundering," Yusuf told Tempo last night.
Yesterday, the Sorong District Court judges sentenced Labora to two years in prison and fined him Rp 50 million. According to the panel of judges, which comprised of presiding judge Martinus Bala and members, Magdalena Sitanggang and Irianto Tiranda, Labora was only proven to have committed the crime of illegal logging and transporting illegal fuel. "Therefore LS [Labora] is sentenced to two years in prison," said Martinus, reading the verdict.
The sentence was far lower from what prosecutors had demanded, which was 15 years in prison for Labora and a Rp 100 million fine. Labora has not responded to the verdict, while the prosecutors will seek to counter the court's ruling. "We will file for an appeal," said one of the public prosecutors Syahrul Anwar.
HANING TYAS | IRA GUSLINA SUFA | MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN | BERNADETTE CHRISTINA MUNTHE
