Pre-trial granted, status of suspect of former Deputy Governor of South Sulawesi revoked

MAKASSAR - The pretrial motion for the former acting (Pj), Governor of South Sulawesi Bahtiar Baharuddin regarding the determination of the status of the suspect and his detention for the alleged corruption case in the procurement of pineapple seeds in the 2024 fiscal year was finally granted by the panel of judges and asked to be immediately released from the Maros Class II Prison, South Sulawesi.

"Judging, granting the applicant's pretrial application," said the Makassar Class I A District Court Single Judge Muhammad Adil Kasim, reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 29.

The judge stated that the unlawful and legally binding action of coercive measures taken by the Respondent (South Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office) to the Applicant (Bahtiar Baharuddin) in the form of the determination of a suspect based on the letter of determination of the suspect by the Head of the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati).

The judge also stated that the Attorney General's action was invalid and did not have binding legal force for coercive action based on the detention order at the investigation level and/or prosecution level by the Head of the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office No. 42/P.44.5/FT.2/03/2006 dated March 9, 2006.

Furthermore, the judge asked for the applicant to be released from detention at the investigation level and/or the public prosecution stage at the examination stage.

"Order the defendant to immediately release the applicant from detention at the Maros Class 1IB correctional institution or any place of detention immediately after this pretrial ruling is read," said Adil Kasim.

The applicant's legal team leader Irwan Muin after the trial expressed appreciation for the judge's decision which was very positive and brave to take a fair decision without fear of possible intervention from other parties.

"We appreciate the independence of the judges and the firmness of the judges in giving their rights in deciding this case. From the beginning we conveyed it and in the conclusion it was explained. The decision, the determination of the suspect is canceled, immediately released and released from investigation and prosecution," he said.