KPK Demands 10 Year Sentence For Disgraced Former Minister

Jakarta, KOMPAS.com – Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have demanded a 10 year prison sentence for disgraced former Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi.

"The defendant’s actions have kept Indonesian athletes from developing their potential and achievement" said prosecutor Ronald Worotikan in the virtual hearing at the Anti Corruption Court, which was streamed on the KPK’s YouTube channel on Friday, June 12.

"In doing so, he hindered them from raising Indonesia’s profile through sports.” 

Evidence of wrongdoing

“We have evidence that Imam accepted Rp. 11.5 billion (USD 806,494.02) in bribes, as well as another Rp. 8.64 billion (USD 612,013.71) from officials in his ministry” Ronald added.

“We also demand that the defendant pay a Rp. 500 million fine and return Rp. 19 billion in state money.”

“The defendant must return the state money in a month, or his assets will be confiscated and auctioned in lieu of the funds. If those assets are insufficient, we recommend adding three years to the defendant’s sentence.”

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Ronald also urged the court to revoke Imam’s right to run for public office for up to five years after he served his sentence.

Imam and his legal counsel will file their defense plea in the next hearing on Friday 19 June, 2020.

Accepting kickbacks

Imam allegedly accepted the kickbacks from National Sports Council or KONI Secretary General Endang Fuad Hamidy and KONI treasurer Johnny E Awuy. during his tenure as sports minister during President Joko Widodo’s first term between 2014 to 2019.

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Investigators said he used the funds to speed up a grant proposed by KONI for supervising several athletic events in 2018, including the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

Endang and Johnny, as well as Youth and Sports Ministry officials Mulyana, Adhi Purnomo and Eko Triyanto, have already been convicted for their complicity in the case.