The Tangerang district court began trials Monday for Sukadiri district officials and two local traders for their roles in an alleged subsidized rice distribution scam between August and December last year.
A team of five prosecutors, led by Rahmat Herianto, read out the charges against the defendants Lizia Sobandi, the Sukadiri district chief and his staff members Dulgani and Badri, saying they had allegedly abused their positions in the distribution of subsidized rice to poor residents in the district.
"The three district officials took the subsidized rice allocated to the poor and sold it on the open market. They have to take responsibility for what they did," prosecutor Fanny Widiyastuti said at the hearing.
According to the prosecutors, irregularities were found in the distribution of 192 tons of rice earmarked for low-income earners in the district between August and December.
An initial investigation by the prosecutor's office found evidence of the district chief's involvement in forging documents concerning the subsidized rice distribution.
Fanny said the district received 32 tons of rice each month, which the government bought at Rp 4,500 per kilogram, to be sold to low-income earners for Rp 1,000 a kilogram.
"The suspects sold the rice for Rp 3,000 per kilogram to local traders and earned Rp 700 million from the sale," she said.
The two traders, Mulyadi and Muklis, who were named for knowingly purchasing the subsidized rice, were also tried at the district court in separate cases on the same day.
Prosecutors charged the defendants with violating the 2001 law on corruption and the Criminal Code. The relevant articles carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors detained the defendants as suspects in the graft case after being examined at the prosecutors office on April 4 for fear they could influence others and destroy evidence.
Lizia Sobandi and his staff members tried to cover their faces in front of cameras during the trial. They also refused to answer journalists' questions.
The prosecutors began investigations into the case after a local non-profit organization, Forum Lintas Pelaku, alerted the press to the alleged crime.
Presiding judge Retno Wudianingtias and two other members Ismail and Nasrudin Chaniago adjourned the hearing until next week to hear the defendants' lawyers Endang Hardian and Sumardi present their case.
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