Simulator tender winner gets 8 years

JAKARTA. The panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced Budi Susanto to eight years in prison and a Rp 500 million (US$41,500) fine for his alleged roles in the high-profile vehicle simulator procurement graft case.

The court also ordered him to pay Rp 17.12 billion in restitution to the state to cover the state losses he caused.

Budi is the president director of PT Citra Mandiri Metalindo Abadi (CMMA), the winner of the vehicle simulator project tender at the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas).

 “Defendant Budi Susanto is found guilty of corruption and is sentenced to eight years in prison and a Rp 500 million fine, or a six month imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine,” said presiding judge Amin Ismanto in a session at the Tipikor court in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The sentence was lower than the prosecutors’ charges, who asked judges to sentence Budi to 12 years in prison and a Rp 500 million fine, along with paying Rp 88.4 billion to replace state losses.

 “The defendant must pay Rp 17.13 billion to replace the state losses, but if his resources are not adequate enough to pay, he must serve a sentence of two years in prison,” said Amin.

It was said that Budi had arranged the submission of a R2 simulator budget worth Rp 80 million per unit for 700 units and of a R4 simulator budget worth Rp 260 million per unit for 556 units.

Budi was charged under the Law No.31/1999 in reference to Law No.20/2001 on corruption eradication and the Criminal Code (KUHP). (ebf)