Ponorogo Regent Sugiri sentenced to 6.5 years in bribery case

Former Ponorogo Regent Sugiri Sancoko has been sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in prison by the Surabaya Corruption Court. The verdict was delivered on Friday for his involvement in a bribery and gratification case concerning the sale of positions and development projects at the dr. Harjono Regional General Hospital.

The panel of judges, led by Chief Judge I Made Yuliadi, found Sugiri guilty of committing corruption collectively and continuously. In addition to the prison term, he was fined Rp300 million. Should he fail to pay the fine within one month of the verdict becoming final, his assets will be seized and auctioned to cover the debt, with a 100-day substitute detention period if assets are insufficient.

Furthermore, Sugiri was ordered to pay Rp6.762 billion in restitution for state losses. Failure to pay this amount within one month of the verdict becoming final will result in the seizure and auction of his assets. If his assets are insufficient, he faces an additional 2 years of imprisonment.

The judges found Sugiri guilty under various articles of Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Law. His sentence is lighter than the 7-year term sought by the Corruption Eradication Commission prosecutor. The court granted both the defense and prosecution seven working days to decide whether to accept the verdict or file an appeal. In related rulings, former Ponorogo Regional Secretary Agus Pramono received a 4-year, 3-month sentence and was ordered to pay Rp725 million, while former hospital director Yunus Mahatma was sentenced to 5 years and ordered to pay Rp287 million.