The Bribery Case of Ronald Tannur, Former Judge Erintuah Damanik Received Over Rp 400 Million

Kapanlagi.com - The bribery case involving the acquittal of Ronald Tannur has now become the focus of public attention, especially after the revelation of suspicious fund flows to several judges at the Surabaya District Court. The name Erintuah Damanik, a former judge, has emerged as one of those suspected of receiving a bribe of 38,000 Singapore dollars.

This incident began with the act of abuse committed by Ronald against his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, which ended in a tragic death. The Attorney General's Office has also laid out the chronology of the alleged bribery involving Ronald's mother, Meirizka Widjaja, and lawyer Lisa Rahmat. Both are suspected of being involved in efforts to bribe judges so that Ronald could receive an acquittal.

Investigations are ongoing by the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) to uncover the possible involvement of other parties, including Ronald's family members. Here are some interesting facts about former judge Erintuah Damanik, who is said to have received a share of 38,000 Singapore dollars, summarized by Kapanlagi.com from various sources on Friday (10/1).

1. Case Start: Allegations of Abuse Leading to Death

In an incident that shook Surabaya in October 2023, Ronald Tannur found himself caught in a storm of controversy after allegedly committing severe abuse against his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, at a karaoke place. In a parking area that was supposed to be a place of fun, Ronald recklessly ran over Dini with his car, causing severe injuries detected in the autopsy results, including tire marks on the victim's body.

The Surabaya Police immediately took action, naming Ronald as a suspect for alleged abuse leading to death, with a potential sentence of 12 years in prison based on Article 338 and Article 351 Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code. The case heated up further when the public learned that Ronald's father, Edward Tannur, a member of the DPR from the PKB faction, was suspended from his position, adding weight to the ongoing legal drama.

2. Bribery to Smoothen the Acquittal Verdict

In a shocking legal scandal, it was revealed that Meirizka Widjaja, the mother of Ronald, allegedly attempted to influence the course of the trial by contacting Lisa Rahmat's lawyer in October 2023.

In the legal proceedings that lasted until August 2024, Meirizka allegedly handed over 1.5 billion IDR to Lisa. Not only that, Lisa was also known to have met with the Chief Judge of the Surabaya District Court to obtain information regarding the panel of judges handling the case, namely Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul, and Heru Hanindyo.

Ultimately, in June 2024, Lisa allegedly handed over 140,000 Singapore dollars to Erintuah Damanik at Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang, which was then distributed to Mangapul and Heru Hanindyo, each receiving 36,000 Singapore dollars, while Erintuah received 38,000 Singapore dollars.

3. Controversial Acquittal

On July 24, 2024, the panel of judges led by Erintuah Damanik shocked the public by deciding to acquit Ronald Tannur of the charges of murder and assault against Dini.

In the ruling, the judge emphasized that there was insufficient evidence to prove Ronald's involvement in the tragic incident, even stating that he had attempted to help the victim by taking her to the hospital.

However, this decision immediately triggered a wave of protests from the public, who questioned the validity of the judicial process. Shortly after the verdict, the Surabaya District Attorney took decisive action by filing a cassation to the Supreme Court, highlighting striking pieces of evidence such as the autopsy results showing blunt force injuries and tire tracks on the victim's body.

4. Disclosure of Bribery by the Attorney General

The Attorney General is shaking the legal world with shocking findings related to the flow of bribe money to judges. During a search at the homes of Erintuah and Lisa, investigators found stacks of cash in various currencies and suspicious transaction records, indicating organized corruption practices.

The Director of Investigation at the Attorney General's Office, Abdul Qohar, revealed that the money is suspected to have come from lawyer Lisa Rahmat at the request of Ronald's mother, with strong evidence showing attempts to influence judges' decisions through bribery. Now, the involved judges must face legal proceedings in the Central Jakarta Corruption Court, while Lisa and Meirizka have been handed over to the public prosecutor to be held accountable for their actions.

"Each received 38,000 Singapore dollars for witness Erintuah Damanik, 36,000 Singapore dollars for witness Mangapul, and 36,000 Singapore dollars for witness Heru Hanindyo," said the Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office, Harli Siregar, as reported by ANTARA.

5. Legal Steps and Sanctions Against the Perpetrators

In a development that has shaken the judicial world, three judges—Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul, and Heru Hanindyo—have been embroiled in a disgraceful bribery case, facing severe penalties under the Anti-Corruption Law.

Not only them, but Lisa Rahmat, the briber, also has to face the same legal consequences. The Jampidsus investigators are intensifying their investigation to uncover the possible involvement of other parties, including Ronald Tannur and his family.

On the other hand, the Supreme Court has just granted the cassation filed by the prosecutor, sentencing Ronald to five years in prison for charges of assault leading to death, a small yet significant step in the effort to restore justice for the victim's family.

6. What Makes the Ronald Tannur Case Controversial?

This case has garnered public attention due to allegations of bribery that are strongly believed to have influenced the acquittal decision received by Ronald Tannur, creating a wave of controversy that shakes the justice system.

7. How much bribe did Erintuah Damanik receive?

Erintuah Damanik became embroiled in a bribery scandal after receiving 38,000 Singapore dollars out of a total of 140,000 Singapore dollars that had been prepared, adding to the list of corruption cases that tarnish the legal world.

8. What sanctions were imposed on the judges in this case?

In a trial that has shaken the legal world, the judges are now in the defendant's seat at the Corruption Court, entangled in a bribery case that threatens their future with severe penalties.

(kpl/srr)