Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced on Tuesday former National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo to 10 years in prison for graft, a verdict which many said is too lenient given the significant losses suffered by the state to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

The sentence is much lighter than the 18-year prison term sought by Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) prosecutors.

Presiding judge Suhartoyo said in his verdict that Djoko was found guilty of colluding with Brig. Gen. Didik Purnomo – and a whole host of others – to inflate the budget of the driving simulator procurement project. The scheme caused Rp 144.9 billion (US$13 million) in state losses.

"The defendant has been proven guilty of corruption as stipulated under Article 2 of Law No. 31/1999," the panel of judges said in their verdict.

Awaiting the verdict, Djoko appeared tense, and held tightly on the arm of his chair. Upon hearing the sentence, Djoko slowly released his grip and rested his back against the chair.

Suhartoyo said that the prosecutors' demand was too harsh. "Prison is not an instrument to exact revenge on the defendant. But it should be used as a momentum for the defendant to redeem his mistakes" he said.

Djoko, the first active police general to be charged by the KPK, was also found guilty of enriching himself by embezzling Rp 32 billion from the project, which he allegedly rigged.

He then tried to hide the ill-gotten money by spending it on properties and cars, which made him guilty of money laundering, judge Amin Ismanto said. Beside laundering money from the driving simulator project, Djoko was guilty of collecting ill-gotten money from 2002 to 2010.

Djoko, an officer with no additional income to his Rp 28 million monthly salary, had a fortune larger than his financial profile as a two-star general, the judges said.

Shortly before his arrest last year, Djoko amassed Rp 54.6 billion and US$60,000 in assets from 2002 to 2010, despite his total earning as a police officer and from his other business ventures amounting to a measly Rp 407 million and Rp 1.2 billion respectively.

Between 2010 and 2012, Djoko amassed a further Rp 63.7 billion in assets, earned Rp 235.7 million from his job as a police officer and Rp 1.2 billion from his many businesses.

In its sentence demand, the KPK called on the panel of judges to order Djoko to return the money he embezzled. The panel of judges, however, decided to spare him from having to return Rp 32 billion to the state arguing that some of Djoko's ill-gotten assets, such as cars, land and apartments, had already been confiscated by the KPK.

The KPK said that the value of Djoko's confiscated assets was Rp 120 billion, the largest amount ever seized by the antigraft body. In total, the state seized 48 assets, including lavish houses and apartments in Jakarta, Bogor and Depok in West Java; Semarang and Surakarta in Central Java; and Bali.

The remainder of his assets, which were not confiscated, would be returned to some of his relatives – including his three wives, Suratmi, Mahdiana and Dipta Anindita whose names were used by Djoko to purchase the assets.

In response to the verdict, KPK prosecutors said that the court should have demanded Djoko to pay Rp 32 billion to the state despite the asset confiscation.

KPK prosecutor KMS Roni argued that Djoko was subjected to multiple charges, one of which was the corruption in the project that should result in him returning the money, while the assets confiscation was a result of his money laundering charges.

In addition to the prison term, Djoko was ordered by the court to pay a fine of Rp 500 million, or spend an additional six months in prison should he fail to pay.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said that he was disappointed with the lenient sentence, saying that he initially expected the court to deliver a maximum sentence.

Bambang also lambasted the judges for not requiring Djoko to pay back the state losses he caused. "Since Djoko did not have to return the embezzled money, [we have to question] whether his assets had already been drained out?" he said.

Assets of Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo

• Djoko's monthly salary is Rp 28 million
• He amasses Rp 54.6 billion and US$60,000 in assets from 2002 to 2010
• He accumulates a further Rp 63.7 billion in assets from 2010 to 2012
• KPK confiscates Rp 120 billion of his assets
• Court orders him to pay a fine of Rp 500 million

[From various sources.]