Past Indonesian Governor, Addicted to Gambling, Sent to Jail
Lukas Enembe, a former governor of the Indonesian province of Papua, is now on his way to jail. The judge found him guilty of stealing and misusing government funds for personal expenses, such as lavish gambling trips to Singapore and Australia. His sentence includes a mandatory repayment of 19.7 billion IDR (US$1.2 million).
Enembe's crimes were exposed when the authorities discovered he had embezzled state funds and used them for gambling and other personal purposes. On top of that, he accepted bribes from private companies in exchange for approving contracts, earning him at least 47 billion IDR (US$2.96 million), though the real amount may be higher. The judge refused to force him to repay the entire sum.
Enembe also faces money laundering charges, and authorities had already seized 82 billion IDR (US$5.16 million) related to that case. This case showcases the elaborate strategies utilized to hide his illegally obtained wealth.
Some of the money thought to have been taken from Papua's treasury ended up in the accounts of his family members, and they have had their funds frozen as well. The government refused to honor Enembe's pleas to return these funds to his relatives.
The Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center discovered that Enembe had made significant, questionable transactions, including over 55 million SGD (US$39 million) at various foreign casinos. This started in 2017. He also visited Crown Resorts in Australia several times and deposited questionable amounts of money at Crown Perth.
These details came to light after the Corruption Eradication Commission requested a thorough analysis of Enembe's financial records. A typical provincial governor's monthly salary in Indonesia is about 3 million IDR (US$188.91).
One jaw-dropping example uncovered by the financial watchdog was a casino payment of 5 million SGD (US$3.46 million). This revelation illustrates the depth of Enembe's involvement in gambling and the size of his financial misdeeds.
Enembe's chances of rejoining politics are slim. The judge has banned him from holding any public office for five years, starting from the end of his sentence. Enembe insisted on his innocence throughout his trial and got into arguments with the judge, who presumably took this into consideration while determining his punishment. His legal team plans to appeal the decision. The court has also ordered the confiscation and subsequent sale of his property to be used to repay the money he owes.
Even if Enembe manages to finish his sentence, he cannot return to political office for five years. Despite his insistence on his innocence and heated arguments with the judge during the trial, these actions may have worsened his situation as the judge appeared displeased by his behavior.
Read also:
- Remaining contenders down to two in DFB's struggle versus Brazil.
- Schalke's Transfer Assessment: A Season of Wastefulness
- Shocking development in the NBA!
- Law enforcement agencies in various metropolises plan expansive measures for May 1.
Source: www.casino.org
