Budi Said Divonis Sentenced to 15 Years for Corruption Involving 1.136 Tonnes of Gold
A Surabaya court has sent a stark message to corrupt officials, handing down a 15-year prison sentence to Budi Said Divonis, widely known as "Crazy Rich" in local circles. Divonis was convicted for his role in a massive corruption scandal involving 1.136 tonnes of gold, the largest such case in Indonesian history.
The Firm That Swept the Gold Under the Carpet
The convict, a 40-year-old businessman, admitted to bribing officials at state-owned mining giant PT Antam to facilitate the illegal export of the gold, worth an estimated IDR 20 trillion ($1.4 billion). Divonis, through his company PT Enhance Apexindo, smuggled the gold out of the country by concealing it in luxury cars and containers branded as exports of other goods. The brazen operation was carried out with the full knowledge and cooperation of Antam officials, including the company’s former General Manager, who was also sentenced to four years in prison.
Antam Reacts: No Connection, No Responsibility
PT Antam has distanced itself from the scandal, stating that it is not responsible for the illegal activities of its former employees. The company has expressed its commitment to cooperating with law enforcement agencies to bring all perpetrators to justice and prevent such incidents in the future.
A Lesson for Future Offenders
The severity of Divonis’ sentence serves as a warning to would-be corrupt officials and businesspeople. The court’s decision sends a clear signal that the government will not tolerate corrupt practices that hinder the country’s economic growth and undermine public trust in institutions. With this ruling, Indonesia continues to strengthen its stance against corruption, a menace that has long plagued the Southeast Asian nation.
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