JAKARTA - The Panel of Judges at the Central Jakarta Corruption District Court has rejected former United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Romahurmuziy's exception in the alleged post procurement bribery case in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, of which he is a defendant.
According to the panel, the public prosecutor's indictment letter to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) against Romy has met the formal and material requirements in accordance with Article 156 in conjunction with Article 143 Clause 2 Sections A and B of the Criminal Code.
"The panel has hereby rejected defendant Muhammad Romahurmuziy and his legal counsel's exception," said Panel Chairman Judge Fahzal Hendri during the ruling at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court as quoted by Bisnis.com, Wednesday (9/10).
With the ruling, the panel has ordered KPK prosecutors to continue their principal investigation into alleged post-procurement bribery in the Ministry of Religious Affairs with Mr Romahurmuziy as a defendant. Meanwhile, Mr Romahurmuziy's attorney Maqdir Ismail immediately appealed the ruling.
Mr Romahurmuziy and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin have been indicted with receiving bribes from former Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs' East Java Regional Office Haris Hasanudin in relation to post procurement in the ministry. In their indictment, KPK prosecutors alleged that Mr Romahurmuziy received Rp 255 million in bribes from a total of Rp 325 million paid by Mr Hasanudin.
In addition, Mr Romahurmuziy has also been charged with receiving Rp 91.4 million in bribes from former Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Gresik Regency District Office Muhamad Muafaq Wirahadi. Of that amount, Rp 41.4 million was allegedly used by Mr Romahurmuziy's cousin Abdul Wahab for campaign purposes. (MS)