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The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
18-month jail sentence for sandals thief sparks corruption debate in Indonesia
JAKARTA: A North Sumatran man has been handed a prison sentence of 18 months for stealing a pair of sandals from his former boss, prompting a wave of public criticism over what many see as an unequal justice system that punishes the poor more harshly than corrupt elites. Netizens have taken to social media to criticise the verdict, comparing it to cases in which public officials received similar or even lighter sentences for embezzling billions of rupiah in state funds. Last week, the Medan District Court sentenced 32-year-old Nefri Zaldi, a resident of Deli Serdang Regency, to 18 months in prison for stealing a pair of Hermes sandals from the home of his former employer, Siwaji Raja, in an incident that occurred late last year. According to court findings, Nefri and a friend, Andika Gumtom, visited Siwaji's residence on the afternoon of Dec 28, 2024. As they were leaving the property, Nefri took a pair of Hermes sandals from the shoe rack, an act witnessed directly by Andika. Several days later, a witness named Ravindra informed Andika that Siwaji had lost a pair of sandals valued at Rp15 million (US$916). Andika then told Ravindra that he had seen Nefri take the sandals during their visit. The information prompted Siwaji to file a police report, and Nefri was arrested on March 21, and the trial began on June 24. The court ultimately found Nefri guilty of theft on July 29 and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, a lighter sentence than the two years sought by prosecutors. Presiding judge Sarma Siregar cited Nefri's clean criminal record as a mitigating factor. 'However, the defendant's actions have caused financial harm to the victim and disrupted public order,' the judge said during the verdict hearing. During the trial, Nefri admitted to the theft and expressed remorse, asking the court for leniency on the grounds that he is the sole breadwinner for his family. He faced the proceedings without legal representation and stated after the verdict that he was still considering whether to file an appeal against the prison sentence. Deny Marincka, Head of the General Crimes Unit at the Medan District Attorney's Office, acknowledged that an 18-month prison sentence may seem excessive for stealing a pair of sandals. However, he argued that the financial loss suffered by the victim was substantial. 'For example, it's not uncommon for motorcycle thieves to receive two-year prison sentences, even though the value of the stolen motorcycle is sometimes half that of a pair of luxury sandals,' he told The Jakarta Post on Friday. 'Yet the public tends to be more sympathetic when someone is jailed for stealing sandals than for stealing a motorcycle, regardless of the actual value of the items. That's the dilemma prosecutors often face,' Deny added. He also said prosecutors are still deliberating whether to file an appeal, taking into account various factors, including humanitarian considerations. When asked about the relatively harsh sentence given to Nefri compared to the often lighter penalties faced by public officials involved in graft, Deny simply responded that theft and corruption are 'different offences' and declined to elaborate further. Many public officials have received sentences equal to or lighter than Nefri's for graft-related offenses. Last month, seven public officials in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, were each sentenced to one year in prison for embezzling tourist entrance fees from the Sungai Sebong mangrove tourism area between 2017 and 2024. Their actions caused state losses totalling Rp860 million (US$52,000). In May, a civil servant at the Berau Health Agency in East Kalimantan was sentenced to one year in prison and fined Rp50 million for fabricating salary records and embezzling funds, causing the state a loss of Rp1.2 billion. In September of last year, the former head of the South Sumatran Office of the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) received a one-year prison sentence for embezzling Rp3.4 billion by fabricating events. He was also ordered to repay the misappropriated funds. Zaenur Rohman, a researcher at the Gadjah Mada University Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Pukat UGM), said that although Nefri's sentence aligns with the penalties outlined in the criminal code for theft, it does not necessarily satisfy the public's sense of justice. 'This disparity is a serious problem because it can undermine the public's sense of justice and weaken the deterrent effect for graft,' he told the Post on Monday. 'That's why penalties for corruption must be much harsher, especially in terms of financial punishment. Instead of focusing primarily on prison sentences, we need to increase fines for graft offenders and ensure the confiscation of their assets, possibly through amendments to the Corruption Eradication Law,' he added. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab govt to set up special unit to tackle GST violations
To institutionalise tax enforcement, finance and taxation minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday announced the decision to establish a state-level special fraud detection unit (SFDU) headquartered at Patiala. This dedicated Unit will streamline the detection and bring consistency in investigating complex cases involving Goods and Services Tax (GST) violations. Punjab cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema Cheema stated that the SFDU will be tasked with uncovering and probing high-value GST frauds, with particular focus on breaking down circular trading operations, unearthing benami (anonymous) transactions, and eliminating the practice of fake invoicing. 'The unit will be empowered to initiate stringent enforcement actions, including cancellation of suspicious GST identification numbers (GSTINs), blocking wrongful claims of input tax credit (ITC), and recommending prosecution against offenders to uphold legal accountability', he added. The FM highlighted that the SFDU will leverage advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and centralised backend operations, to enhance its detection capabilities. The Unit will conduct comprehensive data mining and pattern recognition across the state to identify anomalies in tax returns, transaction networks, and goods movement. He further stated that the Unit will use data-driven red flags to selectively verify only dubious or miscreant taxpayers, protecting honest taxpayers from unnecessary scrutiny. This strategic approach aims to strike a balance between effective enforcement and taxpayer facilitation, ensuring a more efficient and taxpayer-friendly administration, he emphasised. Detailing the composition of the SFDU, Cheema stated that the Unit will comprise a multidisciplinary team consisting of experienced tax officers, skilled IT professionals, a chartered accountant, and a legal officer. He said that this team will be equipped with real-time access to critical datasets such as GSTN information, e-way bill tracking, toll records, and RFID trail analytics, enabling prompt and precise action against tax evasion. The minister informed that SFDU will be empowered by robust legal provisions under Sections 67, 70, 74, and 132 of the CGST/PGST Acts, complemented by relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trade war: ‘Major success' or ‘factless turbulence'? Here's how nations reacted to Trump's new tariffs
A sweeping new wave of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump has triggered a flurry of responses from trading partners around the globe. Friday's announcement unveiled new or sharply increased tariffs on dozens of countries, with rates ranging from a baseline tariff of 10% to as high as 41%. The sweeping move has prompted a wide range of responses, as each nation scrambles to protect its economic interests. The newly announced tariffs would be taking place from August 7. Here's how some have responded: A "major success" for Thailand Thailand described the outcome of its talks with Washington as a diplomatic victory, welcoming a 19% tariff rate instead of the originally threatened 36%. 'This finalised deal, setting US import tariffs at 19%, marks a major success for Thailand,' government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab said in a statement. 'It represents a win-win approach aimed at preserving Thailand's export base and long-term economic stability.' The US goods trade deficit with Thailand rose to $45.6 billion in 2024, up 11.7% from the previous year. The southeast Asian nation has faced economic headwinds since the pandemic and recently downgraded its 2025 growth forecast to between 2.3% and 3.3%. The tariff deal came on the heels of Trump's diplomatic involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after five days of border clashes that killed over 40 people and displaced 300,000. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Cambodia gets 'the best news' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed the 19% tariff deal with the US, which averted the harsher 36% levy initially planned. 'This is the best news for the people and economy of Cambodia to continue to develop the country,' he wrote on Facebook. The development follows days of deadly border conflict with Thailand, which was halted after US diplomatic intervention earlier in the week. Taiwan hopes for more cuts Taiwan vowed to continue negotiations with Washington after Trump imposed a "temporary" 20% levy on its exports, which could have been as high as 32%. "The US has announced a temporary 20% tariff for Taiwan, with the possibility of further reductions should an agreement be reached," President Lai Ching-te said on Facebook. "The government will continue to strive for a reasonable tariff rate and complete the final stages of the tariff negotiations." Semiconductor powerhouse Taiwan has seen soaring demand for its AI-related chips, which make up the bulk of its trade surplus with the US. Nearly 60% of its exports to the US are information and communications technology products. In an effort to soften the blow, Taipei pledged increased investment in the US, more energy imports from American producers, and higher defence spending. Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim emphasised the mutual value in maintaining strong US-Taiwan trade relations. 'The United States is indeed a very important trade partner for Taiwan,' Hsiao said. America also needs Taiwan in supporting resilient supply chains, in supporting manufacturing and some high-end technologies. Canada slams tariffs as 'tact-less turbulence' Canada sharply criticised the US move to hike tariffs from 25% to 35%. The decision, laid out in a White House fact sheet citing 'Canada's continued inaction and retaliation,' will take effect from August 1, CNN reported. Candace Laing, President and CEO of Canada's Chamber of Commerce, launched a sharp attack on increased tariffs. 'The White House fact sheet should be called a fact-less sheet when it comes to basing trade decisions about Canada on the fentanyl emergency,' she said. 'More fact-less tariff turbulence does not advance North American economic security. Businesses — in Canada and the US— urgently need certainty.' Laing further praised Canadian PM Mark Carney for refusing to be rushed into a deal, calling his approach 'strong' and 'future-focused.' More countries, like Syria, Switzerland, Laos are expected to respond as the new deadline of August 7 looms. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Gram sevak caught taking 40k bribe in Bhuj
Rajkot: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a gram sevak, Darshan Patel, posted at Bhuj taluka panchayat, for allegedly accepting a Rs 40,000 bribe. According to KH Gohil, assistant director of the ACB Border Unit, the complainant had applied for financial aid under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to construct houses for himself and his relatives. During the process, he met one, Vishal Joshi, who allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 to complete the technical procedures and directed him to hand the amount to Patel. Not willing to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB Bhuj, which laid a trap at the Taluka Panchayat office. Patel was caught red-handed while accepting the money. The ACB said efforts are underway to trace and apprehend Joshi, who is currently absconding.
Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
EVMs tamper proof, no mismatch found: ECI
New Delhi: All applications filed and processed after the Maharashtra assembly elections for Checking and Verification (C&V) of EVM burnt memory have come clean, the latest ECI statement on ten such cases shows. This exercise proves, yet again, that "the EVMs are tamper proof," said ECI. In cases where a mock poll was held, the results of EVM (from Control Unit) were verified with the VVPAT slips count and "no mismatch was found", ECI underlined. The Maharashtra C&V clean chit is in keeping with the trend so far as similar applications, filed after 2024 Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls thereafter, have found no tampering with the EVM microcontroller or burnt memory. Nearly 100 C&V applications were filed in Maharashtra, mainly by the INDIA bloc after tightly contested 2024 assembly elections.
