TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Corruption Court imposed a 7-year prison sentence and a fine of Rp 250 million (US$19,000) to Mohamad Sanusi, Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) member from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party.

"The defendant is proven to have committed corruption," Jakarta Corruption Court judge Sumpeno said in Jakarta on Thursday, December 29, 2016.

Sumpeno said that the verdict was issued because Sanusi refused to support the government in corruption eradication efforts. The panel of judges also ruled that Sanusi had committed a money laundering crime.

Sanusi, who previously served as the Chairman of Commission D of the Jakarta DPRD, was proven to receive a bribe amounting to Rp 2 billion (US$153,000) from Podomoro Land president director Ariesman Widjaja to lower the additional contribution fee related to the Jakarta north coastal reclamation project. In addition, Sanusi was proven to commit Rp 45.28 billion (US$2.7 million) worth of money laundering.

The sentence was lighter compared to the prosecutor's demand of 10 years imprisonment and a Rp 500 million fine (US$38,400). Prosecutor Mungki Hadipratikto said that a number of assets to be seized from Sanusi included money and two luxurious cars.

Mungki revealed that the state would also seize two houses at Thamrin Executive Residence, two apartments at Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan, an apartment in South Jakarta, and a Soho apartment unit at Pancoran. A land plot and building belong to Sanusi in Bogor would also be seized.

DANANG FIRMANTO