Court Acquits Sofyan Basir

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sofyan Basir, a former president director of state electricity firm PLN, expressed his gratitude after the judges absolved him of charges in the bribery case of the Riau 1 steam power plant (PLTU) project. He also thanked all parties who helped him during the legal process.

"I am grateful to Allah for giving the best for me. I am free [of charges] today," said Sofyan after the verdict hearing at Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, November 4.

Sofyan said that following the release, he could start working again. "I can start to work outside freely, do my best for all people," he added.

The panel of judges dropped all the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) charges and released Sofyan, who was accused of assisting former deputy head of the House’s Energy Commission Eni Maulani Saragih and businessman Johannes Budisutrisno to expedite the PLTU Riau-1 project.

The judges also convicted that Sofyan was not proven to have helped Eni accept a bribe of Rp 4.7 billion for the project.

After the verdict reading, Sofyan shed tears as he shook the hands of his legal team and embraced his family, relatives, and coworkers in the courtroom.

On the other hand, the anti-graft body stated that it was still mulling to submit an appeal. KPK Deputy Chairman Laode M. Syarif said he would study the judges' decision first and asserted he would make every effort to prove Sofyan Basir was guilty. "We will try our best to prove that," said Laode at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Monday, November 4.

M ROSSENO AJI