Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Convicted Bengkulu Governor, Agusrin Maryono Najamuddin, was taken to Cipinang Penitentiary, East Jakarta, on Tuesday to begin a four year jail term.

"The executor is Bengkulu regional attorney. He was sent to jail at 17.30 local time," Attorney General`s Office spokesman Adi Toegarisman said here on Tuesday.

He arrived at the penitentiary with his lawyer, Yusril Ihza Mahendra. Agusrin was found guilty of embezzling dividends from land and building taxes and transferring land rights worth Rp20,16 billion in 2006 during his tenure as Bengkulu governor.

Agusrin, however, was acquitted of the embezzlement charges by the Central Jakarta District Court in May 2011.

Nevertheless, in January the Supreme Court overturned the verdict, sending Agusrin to prison for four years. Agusrin then requested the Constitutional Court review Articles 67 and 244 of the Criminal Code.

His lawyer, Yusril, argued that prosecutors could not file an appeal after a panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court had acquitted his client of all charges in May last year.

The Constitutional Court, however, ruled that it had no authority to assess the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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