John Gluba Gebze (Jubi)
Jayapura, 25/4 (Jubi) – The Court for Corruption Crimes of Jayapura sentenced one year prison and a penalty of 50 million rupiahs to the former Regent of Merauke Regency, John Gluba Gebze on Thursday (24/4) after filed guilty in the corruption case on the budget of the crocodile leather handicrafts.
The judges chaired by Dolman Sinaga filed the lower charge than a prior attorney’s charge of six years prison and a penalty of 500 million rupiah with six-months subsidiary imprisonment if he couldn’t pay the penalty. Judge Dolman Sinaga with other judges Peter Maturbongs and Irianto Utama considered Mr. Gebze was not found guilty for the primary charge, therefore he exempted from the accusation.
Meanwhile, Gebze’s family restricted the journalists taking pictures during the trial. The journalists were only allowed to present in distance or observe the trial without taking their cameras or recording the process of trial.
“The defendant has legally and convincingly proven for his subsidiary charge of the collective corruption. So we filed him for one year prison and a penalty of 50 million,” Judge Dorman read the verdict.
He further said if the defendant wasn’t able to pay the penalty, therefore he would charge with two-months subsidiary imprisonment. It was decided through a consensus of the three judges.
Further, he also considered Gebze was not guilty due to the fact in the trial. The defendant only wanted to promote the local handicrafts. While the budget to cover the debts on the handicrafts has been certified and approved by the Local Parliament of Merauke Regency and allocated in the Regional Budget.
Gebze was reported to the Local Corruption Court for alleged corruption on the Regional Budget 2006-2010 of total 18.5 milliard rupiah for crocodile leather handicrafts. The handicrafts were always given as local souvenir to the guests who visited to Merauke. (Jubi/Aprila/rom)
