TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla will testify in the review trial of former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali today at the Central Jakarta District Court.
Suryadharma Ali's lawyer Rullyandi confirmed the news to Tempo on Wednesday, July 11.
Suryadharma appealed to the Jakarta High Court against a verdict of six years jail term and a fine of Rp300 million for his involvement in the pilgrim fund corruption. At the appellate level, judges gave him a heavier sentence—prolonging the imprisonment time to 10 years, a fine of Rp300 million, and repealed his political rights for five years after serving his sentence.
After the 10-year-in-jail verdict, Suryadharma said he would not file an appeal. However, through his legal counsel, he filed a petition to the Supreme Court on June 4, 2018.
Rullyandi said Suryadharma Ali believed that the Jakarta High Court's judges' ruling was odd. His client, he said, has prepared new evidence.
In the previous hearing, Rullyandi mentioned the evidences; including Constitutional Court Decision N0.25/PUU/XIV/ 2016 on the amendment of Article 2 paragraph 1 and Article 3 of the Corruption Law, as well as the Supreme Court's (MA) circular No.4/2016. The laws stipulate that the authority to declare whether or not there is a state loss belongs to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
The defendant has also prepared a number of witnesses.
TAUFIQ SIDDIQ