Indonesian Court Acquits Two in COVID-19 Wastewater Corruption Case

A court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, has acquitted two individuals, Wiki Noviandi and Iqbal, in a corruption case related to the procurement of COVID-19 wastewater facilities for schools. The Corruption Court judge declared that the prosecution failed to prove the defendants committed criminal acts as charged.

Presiding judge M. Jamil stated that the element of illegality, as alleged by the prosecutor, was not met. "Therefore, we acquit both defendants from all charges by the public prosecutor," Jamil announced during the verdict reading. The defendants, who were contractors for the procurement project at schools under the Aceh Education Agency in 2020, were present with their legal counsel.

The court ordered the immediate release of the defendants from city detention and the restoration of their rights, status, and dignity. This verdict contrasts sharply with the prosecution's earlier demand for each defendant to serve three years in prison, pay a fine of 50 million rupiah, and return state losses of 411 million rupiah. The prosecution had accused the defendants of violating corruption laws by failing to follow proper procedures for the procurement of goods and services for the project, which was funded by COVID-19 refocusing funds.