Indonesia’s former speaker Setya Novanto jailed for 15 years on graft charges stemming from government ID scheme
Novanto, who had managed to sidestep corruption allegations in the past, was accused of playing a key role in embezzlement from the US$440 million ID card project
Indonesia’s former parliament speaker was handed a 15-year prison term on Tuesday in one of the country’s harshest sentences for graft, marking a victory for its clamp-down on widespread corruption.
Setya Novanto, once among the country’s most influential politicians, had been accused of taking millions in kickbacks and bribes linked to the national roll-out of government ID cards.
“We have found defendant Setya Novanto, beyond reasonable doubt, guilty of violating anti-corruption law,” presiding Judge Yanto told the packed Jakarta courtroom.
Novanto, who showed little reaction to the sentence, said he would “need time” to consider an appeal.
His months-long trial came after a string of manoeuvres – including allegedly faking an injury in a car crash – that critics say the 62-year-old used to dodge serious charges.
Prosecutors had demanded a 16-year sentence.