Former Indonesian governor with gambling habits sentenced to 8 years in prison for embezzling government funds

Former Indonesian provincial governor Lukas Enembe received an eight-year prison term for embezzling public funds. The Jakarta Globe claims that Enembe traveled to Singapore and Australia as part of his lavish gaming lifestyle, which was funded by the money that was misdirected. Along with this, Enembe was ordered to pay IDR19.7 billion (US$1.2 million) in reparations or risk serving an additional two years in prison.

A pattern of misconduct by Enembe throughout his tenure as governor was made public by the case against him, which included accepting bribes from private companies in exchange for approving contracts. Although the real amount could be higher, he was found guilty of receiving at least IDR47 billion (US$2.96 million). The judge rejected the prosecution’s request that he pay back the whole sum.

Enembe faces charges of embezzlement as well as money laundering. In the course of the inquiry, authorities have already seized IDR82 billion (US$5.16 million), shedding light on a convoluted web of financial wrongdoing. The government has reportedly frozen his wife’s and son’s bank accounts, which included some of the money he took from the province’s coffers.

A research conducted by Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center claims that Enembe made large and questionable payments, mostly starting in 2017 and totaling SGD55 million (US$39 million), to foreign casinos. These findings highlight the extent of his financial misconduct and show that he gambled with significant bets.

Since the court prohibited Enembe from holding any public office for the next five years after his release, his political career is gone. He argued fiercely with the court throughout the trial, trying to prove his innocence, but in the end, he was given a prison sentence. The court has ordered that his property be seized and auctioned to pay the reparations he must pay, and his defense team has indicated that they may attempt to appeal the decision.

Original story by: Casino.org