Former corruption judges on trial for graft

The Semarang Corruption Court on Monday put on trial two of its former judges separately on graft charges in cases that they had previously handled.

The Jakarta Post reported that both judges, Asmadinata and Pragsono were charged for receiving 150 million rupiah (RM40,000) in bribes from Pontianak Corruption Court judge, Heru Kisbandono.

The amount was received to give a light sentence to former Grobogan regency legislative council speaker M Yaeni who face trial for a graft case involving 1.9 billion rupiah (almost RM500,000).

“The bribe was given to influence the sentence by the judge, either to lighten or release M. Yaeni,” said the prosecution during the opening of the trial.

The same court in April last year sentenced another judge Kartini Juliana Magdalena Marpaung to eight years imprisonment and 500 million rupiah (RM137,000) for similar charges.