Jakarta. Actress Sandra Dewi, wife of businessman Harvey Moeis—who is implicated in a Rp 300 trillion ($18.5 billion) corruption case involving state-owned tin miner Timah—testified in court on Thursday.

Emotional during her testimony, Sandra recounted how she explained to their children that Harvey was away due to military service, drawing parallels to their favorite K-pop group, BTS. “I told my children that Papa (Harvey) is in military service, so he can’t meet us right now. I mentioned this because they know some members of BTS are also serving,” Sandra said.

Sandra claimed she was unaware of her husband's business dealings with Timah and only knew that Harvey was assisting Suparta, the president director of Refined Bangka Tin (RBT), whom she described as an elder figure to her husband. “Oh, my husband didn’t tell me, Your Honor. If I had known, I would have definitely forbidden him,” she said.

She also asked the Attorney General's Office (AGO) not to confiscate her engagement and wedding rings. “I will not allow the confiscation of my engagement and wedding rings because they are sacred and were not purchased with that (corruption) money,” Sandra emphasized during her testimony at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court.

Additionally, Sandra expressed her discontent over the AGO’s seizure of 141 pieces of gold jewelry linked to her husband’s case. “Regarding the gold, that belongs to me. Those pieces were obtained from my clients, who protested when the jewelry was confiscated. These gold brands provided me with jewelry to promote and wear,” Sandra explained.

Thirteen witnesses were called to testify in the case against Harvey and Suparta, including another defendant, Helena Liem, and Sandra's sister, Kartika Dewi. 

During the investigation, the AGO traced funds from Harvey to Sandra and examined their joint property holdings, which are suspected to be connected to the proceeds from the corruption case.

Prosecutor Ardito Mawardi from the AGO is seeking a life sentence for Harvey, accusing him of violating the law on corruption. Harvey is charged with embezzling Rp 420 billion through corrupt practices at Timah.

Kuntadi, the Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes, explained that between 2018 and 2019, Harvey allegedly coordinated with Timah's CEO, Mochtar Riza Pahlevi Tabrani, who is also a suspect. Harvey is accused of exploiting Riza’s position to facilitate illegal mining activities within Timah’s operational areas. Their meetings allegedly led to an agreement to lease tin processing equipment, which became part of the corruption scheme. 

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