Ulma Haryanto – A 17-month jail term handed down to a senior politician on Wednesday closed the first chapter in a high-profile, Rp 24 billion ($2.8 million) bribery scandal that has so far dragged down 28 active and former lawmakers.

Panda Nababan, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was the last of 28 suspects to be convicted for receiving between Rp 350 million and Rp 1.4 billion each to appoint economist Miranda Goeltom to a senior post at the central bank in 2004. Four have already served their jail terms, while two other suspects have passed away.

Panda was among 17 suspects who were sentenced at two separate trials on Wednesday, all receiving 17 months in prison and a Rp 50 million fine, or three additional months in jail. Seven other politicians involved in the case have already been jailed for between 15 months and 20 months each.

"[The defendants] were convincingly and legally proven to have conspired to commit corruption," said Eka Budi Prijatna, the presiding judge at the Anti-Corruption Court.

However, the panel of five judges said the court could not find that Panda had coordinated the bribery, as alleged by prosecutors. Two of the judges, I Made Hendra Kusuma and Andi Bachtiar, moreover, offered dissenting opinions over whether Panda actually received a Rp 1.45 billion bribe.

"The statements from Emir Moeis and Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo conflicted with each other," Hendra said. "There is no other evidence, statements or documents to support their testimony in court."

Emir and Soekardjo, both from the PDI-P, claimed in court that they had received Rp 200 million each from Panda.

Judge Marsudin Nainggolan said that to prove Panda's involvement, "We used logic that he could not distribute something that he himself did not produce if someone hadn't given it to him in the first place."

Panda said he was disappointed by the verdict and would report the judges to the Judicial Commission. "I have been tyrannized by the judges," he said. Prosecutor Muhammad Rum told reporters an appeal was being considered.

Miranda, who has denied any knowledge of the bribes, has so far remained a witness in the case, while Nunun Nurbaeti, who is suspected for having distributed bribes in the form of traveler's checks, is on the run overseas.