JAKARTA - An Indonesian court on Friday sentenced former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong to four years and six months in prison for corruption related to sugar imports during his tenure between 2015 and 2016.

"The judge declares that the defendant, Thomas Trikasih Lembong, has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a crime," said Chief Judge Dennie Arsan Fatrika while reading the verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

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In addition to the prison sentence, the 54-year-old was ordered to pay a fine of 750 million Indonesian rupiahs (about $45,750). Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.

Lembong was charged and arrested last October for his role in the embezzlement of raw sugar import funds. The case involved state losses estimated at 400 billion rupiahs (about $24.4 million) during the 2015-2016 period.