Riau-1 PLTU Case; Johannes Kotjo Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced former shareholder of Blackgold Natural Resources Ltd Johannes Kotjo two years and eight months imprisonment in the graft case of Riau-1 PLTU (steam-fueled power plant) project. Kotjo also required to pay fine of Rp150 million which could be replaced with three months in jail.

“[Court] decides defendant Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo guilty of conducting corruption act,” said the head of the panel of judges Lucas Prakoso in Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, December 13.

According to the judges, Kotjo was found guilty of bribing a deputy speaker of Energy Commission of the House of Representatives (DPR) Eni Saragih at Rp4.75 billion to help the latter to obtain the Riau-1 PLTU project.

The judge explained that Kotjo through Samantaka Batubara director Rudy Herlambang initially submitted a proposal to state-owned electricity company PLN regarding the Riau PLTU project. Due to lack of response, Kotjo met Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto, asking for a meeting with PLN party.

Setya Novanto then introduced Kotjo to Eni Saragih who later facilitated several meetings between Kotjo and PLN party, including PLN president director Sofyan Basir. The meetings were held so that companies managed by Kotjo could get the Riau-1 PLTU project. 

The sentence was lighter than demands issued by the prosecutor which was four years behind bars and a fine of Rp250 million for a subsidiary of six months in jail. Further, Kotjo said he would not challenge the court verdict, while the KPK prosecutor would first examine the matter.

M ROSSENO AJI