Had Delayed, Trial For Execution Of Extortion Cases Of IDR 44.5 Billion SYL Held Again Today

Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) will hold an exception trial or objection note filed by the former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan), Syahrul Yasin Limpo alias SYL on Wednesday, February 13.

The exception trial was held again after previously being delayed.

The exception was submitted by SYL together with two other defendants in the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), namely former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery Muhammad Hatta.

The three of them filed an exception in response to the indictment that had been read out by the public prosecutor at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding cases of alleged extortion and gratuities worth Rp. 44.5 billion.

"Wednesday, March 13, 2024. An exception agenda from the defendant's attorney," read the statement on the Central Jakarta District Court's case investigation information system (SIPP).

The exception trial is scheduled to be held starting at 09.05 WIB in the Hatta Ali courtroom at the Central Jakarta District Court. Later, each of the defendants will read their exception before the panel of judges.

Previously, the panel of judges decided to postpone the trial of exception or objection note from the former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan), Syahrul Yasin Limpo alias SYL. The postponement of the trial was carried out because the chairman of the panel of judges, Rianto Adam Pontoh, was sick.

"The chairman of the assembly, Mr. Rianto Adam Pontoh, is sick, now he is being treated at the hospital. Hopefully he will recover quickly," said member judge Fahzal Hendri during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday last week.

Fahzal said that Judge Rianto was exhausted due to a large workload at the Central Jakarta District Court. For this reason, the panel of judges decided to postpone the trial.

"Our trial is postponed next week, the same day, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. The reading of the objections or exceptions submitted by the defendants' legal counsel," he added.

It is known that SYL stumbled upon allegations of extortion, gratification, and money laundering offenses. The SYL extortion and gratification case is already at the trial stage, while the money laundering offense is still under investigation by the KPK.

SYL was charged with extortion and gratification together with former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery Muhammad Hatta. The three of them attended the trial of reading the indictment which took place at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus), Wednesday, February 28.

"With the intention of benefiting oneself or others against the law or by abusing power, forcing someone, namely echelon I officials to the Ministry of Agriculture and their subordinate staff to give something, pay or accept payments with deductions or do something for themselves," said the KPK prosecutor in court.