Richard Louhenapessy

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Richard Louhenapessy
Official portrait
Mayor of Ambon
In office
22 May 2017 – 13 May 2022
Preceded byFrans Johanis Papilaya (act.)
Succeeded byBodewin Wattimena [id] (act.)
In office
4 August 2011 – 4 August 2016
Preceded byMarcus Jacob Papilaja
Succeeded byFrans Johanis Papilaya (act.)
Personal details
Born (1955-04-20) 20 April 1955 (age 69)
Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
Political partyGolkar

Richard Louhenapessy (born 20 April 1955) is an Indonesian former politician of the Golkar party who was the mayor of Ambon, Maluku for two terms between 2011–2016 and 2017–2022. Near the end of his tenure in 2022, he was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission for receiving bribery and was sentenced to five years in prison. Prior to becoming mayor, he had been elected four times into the provincial House of Representatives between 1992 and 2009.

Early life and education

Richard Louhenapessy was born in the city of

Pattimura University in 1985. He had been a member of Pattimura's student organization during his time there between 1976 and 1980, and had also joined the National Committee of Indonesian Youth [id].[1]

Career

He began to work as a lawyer in 1978, before he graduated from Pattimura. By 1988, he had joined Golkar, and became head of the party's youth organization in Ambon. He was first elected into Malulu's Regional House of Representative (DPRD) in 1992, serving until 1997. In 1999, he was again elected into the DPRD as leader of Golkar's parliamentary group there, and in 2004 became the legislature speaker.[1] In 2006, Louhenapessy took part in Ambon's first mayoral election, and placed second of five candidate pairs with 40,167 votes (27.8%), losing to incumbent mayor Marcus Jacob Papilaja.[2] He was elected for his fourth term in the DPRD in 2009.[1]

Louhenapessy ran again in the next mayoral election in 2011, and won the election after securing 37% of the votes. He was sworn into office on 4 August 2011.[3] His first term expired on 4 August 2016, and head of the city's trade and industry bureau Frans Yohanes Papilaya was appointed acting mayor to replace Louhenapessy.[4] Louhenapessy ran for a second term in the 2017 mayoral election, and was elected with 82,307 votes (54.65%).[5] His second term began on 22 May 2017.[6]

During his tenure, he promoted Ambon as a "City of Music".[7] He joked that an affinity for music is "part of Ambonese DNA".[8]

Arrest

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced Louhenapessy as a suspect for a bribery case on 13 May 2022. KPK had previously issued an order for Louhenapessy to come to KPK's office in Jakarta, and as he did not come citing a surgery, KPK arrested him.[9] On 9 February 2023, the Ambon District Court sentenced him to five years in prison for receiving bribes, and the Supreme Court of Indonesia upheld his prison sentence upon appeal by KPK. The Supreme Court also reduced restitution payments from Louhenapessy from Rp 8 billion (~USD 530,000) to Rp 520 million (~USD 35,000).[10] As mayor of Ambon, he was replaced in an acting capacity by his deputy Syarif Hadler on 14 May, and as Hadler's tenure expired on 22 May, he was further replaced by City Secretary Agus Ririmasse on 22 May. Ririmasse was replaced two days later by Ministry of Home Affairs appointee Bodewin Wattimena.[11]

Personal life

He is married to Leberina Louisa Evelin Maatita, and the couple has five children. He is a Protestant Christian.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Walikota" (in Indonesian). Ambon City Government. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Pasangan Papilaja-Olivia Menang Mutlak". Tempo (in Indonesian). 23 May 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  3. ^ "PELANTIKAN WALIKOTA AMBON". Antara Foto (in Indonesian). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Gubernur Lantik Penjabat Wali Kota Ambon". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 4 August 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Hasil Hitung TPS (Form C1) Kota Ambon". General Elections Commission (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Pelantikan Walikota Ambon di gelar di Lapangan Merdeka Ambon" (in Indonesian). Ambon City Government. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Ini Program Prioritas Pemkot Ambon". Ambonnesia (in Indonesian). 6 September 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Orang Ambon "DNA"nya Musik". Bali Post (in Indonesian). 19 March 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  9. ^ Hanafi, M. (13 May 2022). "Wali Kota Ambon Tersangka Suap Ditahan KPK!". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  10. ^ "MA Vonis Ringan Mantan Walikota Ambon". Siwalima (in Indonesian). 7 November 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Tercatat Sejarah, Kota Ambon Dipimpin 4 Wali Kota Terjadi Dalam Satu Bulan". satumaluku.id (in Indonesian). 24 May 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2024.