An Indonesian court sentenced the former chief of the Constitutional Court to life in prison for corruption and money-laundering.

The landmark decision by the Jakarta anti-corruption court found Akil Mochtar guilty of taking up to 57 billion rupiah (US$4.8 million) in bribes for fixing 11 local elections.

Mochtar said he would appeal yesterday’s verdict.

It was the first time the anti-corruption court has handed down a life sentence since it was establish in 2003.

Mochtar resigned in October after he was arrested while allegedly receiving 3 billion rupiah in cash from a politician.

He has admitted to soliciting the money in return for ensuring a district chief’s re-election victory last year.

Investigators for the Corruption Eradication Commission have seized billions of rupiah worth of assets believed to be linked to Mochtar, including 33 cars.

The anti-graft body has prosecuted former ministers, governors, legislators, former central bank chiefs and business people, with a conviction rate of nearly 100 percent.

Indonesia ranked 114th out of 177 countries in the 2013 corruption perception index released by Transparency International, with number one being perceived as the least corrupt.

- dpa