Supreme Court Orders KPK to Pay Defendant

The Supreme Court has ordered the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to pay Syarifuddin Umar, a former judge at the Central Jakarta District Court, a Rp100 million fine. "The appellate council unanimously agreed to grant Syarifuddin's appeal and annul the Jakarta High Court's ruling, upholding the South Jakarta District Court's verdict," appellate council member Syamsull Maarif stated last week.

In February 2012, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Syarifuddin to four years in prison plus a Rp150 million fine, declaring him guilty of accepting a Rp250 million bribe from Puguh Wirawan, curator of Skycamping Indonesia, over the garment company's bankruptcy deal. The Jakarta High Court and the Supreme Court both rejected Syarifuddin's initial appeals. However, in its latest ruling, the Supreme Court agreed with the Corruption Court which ordered the KPK to return the property of Syarifuddin that was used as evidence but not connected to the bribery case.