News - Indonesia election chief on trial
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The head of Indonesia’s national election commission has gone on trial charged with corruption.
Prosecutors said Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin had received kickbacks from an insurance firm that won a contract related to the 2004 presidential poll.
They are demanding a prison sentence of eight and a half years.
Mr Sjamsuddin has admitted receiving money, but denies any wrongdoing. He has said he thought the payments were to cover legitimate expenses.
Eight other members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) are also facing similar charges.
Prosecutors say the election commissioner’s treasurer struck a deal worth 14.8bn rupiah ($1.5m) with insurance firm PT Asuransi Umum Bumi Putera Muda 1967 to insure all KPU members and staff during last year’s elections.
He then asked the company to hand over 34% of that amount, and this was shared out among members of the commission, prosecutors say.
Prosecutor Tumpak Simanjuntak told the court that “it has been proved the defendant enriched himself and others”.
Mr Simanjuntak said if Mr Sjamsuddin and the KPU treasurer could not compensate the state for the loss, the election chief should have an additional four years added to his sentence.
The conduct of the election commission during last year’s presidential poll was brought into question after routine audits turned up irregularities, mostly in the procurement of ballot materials.
Indonesia has witnessed a series of high-profile anti-graft investigations.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won power last year promising to tackle graft in Indonesia, consistently ranked as one of the world’s most corrupt countries.
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