Prosecutors Demand 4 Years in Jail for ACT Foundation Corruption Defendants

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public prosecutors on Tuesday demanded that three defendants in the corruption case involving the Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) aid fund be given a four-year prison sentence. The defendants are ACT president Ibnu Khajar, former president Ahyudin, and an official by the name Hariyana Hermain.

The public prosecutors believe Ahyudin is guilty of embezzling and misusing the Rp117 billion in aid funds that Boeing donated to the families/heirs of victims of the Lion Air 610 crash.

On Tuesday's trial, December 27, the defendants were present online from the Criminal Investigation Department's (Bareskrim) Detention Center. During the short trial, they agreed that their defense is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

The ACT Foundation is suspected of misappropriating funds from its donors. Tempo Magazine first reported the case in the July 2 edition, detailing the origins of the alleged misuse of public funds.

Sometime later, the police named four high-ranking and former ACT officials as suspects; Ibnu Khajar, Ahyudin, Hariyana Hermain, and the foundation's secretary in 2009-2019, Novariandi Imam Akbari.

All four allegedly embezzled aid funds from the community that they should have distributed, including the donation that should have been handed to the family members of the Lion Air JT 610 crash victims.

Ahyudin et al are accused of using donations to raise their salaries, some said to reach Rp250 million per month. The money was allegedly used for personal interest, under the pretext of being a loan.

When auditing ACT's finances, the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis (PPATK) found indications of money being transferred to terror groups. The PPATK submitted its audit over ACT's transactions to the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the Police Anti-terror Special Detachment (Densus) 88.

Hamdan Cholifudin Ismail

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