TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Corruption Court today sentenced former president of the Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS), Lutfi Hasan Ishaaq, to 16 years in prison and a fine of Rp1 billion for under bribery and money laundering charges. "If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced by a 1-year imprisonment," said presiding judge Gusrizal, yesterday.
Judge Joko Subagyo said that Lutfi had violated the anti corruption law when he received bribes from Indoguna Utama's managing director, Mary Elizabeth Liman, to help raise the company's beef import quota. Although the bribe did not manage to raise the quota, Lutfi is still guilty of helping Elizabeth meet Agriculture Minister Suswono.
Lutfi was also proven guilty of money laundering for having assets that do not comply with his income as a member of the House of Representatives.
Lutfi rejected the sentence and planned to file an appeal.
"I do not accept the decision and would continue the subsequent legal proceedings, in this world and in the hereafter," he said. He said that the KPK is justifying all means necessary to victimize him in the money laundering charge.
KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Luthfi's sentence can be used to probe Minister Suswono's role in the beef import scandal. It also ensures that the case does not stop with Luthfi.
"This verdict can be used as KPK's reference in developing the alleged bribery for beef import quotas in the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.
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