Judge Doesn't Accept SYL's Pretext As Suspect Because Firli Bahuri

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK VOI

The panel of judges did not accept the pretext of legal counsel for former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) that his client was made a suspect because he did not fulfill the request of former Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri.

Member of the panel of judges, Ida Ayu Mustikawati, in the interim decision reading session said that the pretext was a different incident from the indictment of the KPK Public Prosecutor.

"Considering that the reason for objecting to point one, according to the opinion of the panel of judges, is not the exception material as regulated in Article 156 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code for reasons of objection submitted by the defendant's legal advisory team is a different incident from the incident indicted by the public prosecutor," said Ida as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 27.

As for the truth of the incident, which was argued by SYL's legal adviser, it needs to be proven in the main examination of the case as material for SYL's defense later.

"Considering that because the objection point one has entered the proof of the main examination of the case, it is declared unacceptable," said Ida.

In the trial reading the objection note or exception, Wednesday (13/3), the legal adviser to the former Indonesian Minister of Agriculture SYL, Djamaludin Koedoeboen said his client was made a suspect by the KPK because he did not comply with Firli Bahuri's request.

"Where the act was carried out against SYL, who basically used the reasons for the investigation into this case, so that if the defendant does not fulfill the request of the KPK person, then SYL will be named a suspect," said Djamaludin.

Because SYL was deemed unable to fulfill the request, Djamaludin revealed that SYL was later named a suspect and then an arrest and detention was carried out.

In other words, he said, the journey of a reasonable legal process (due process of law) in the investigation and investigation of the case has been polluted by the intention (mens rea) to commit extortion.

"So there is sufficient reason if the case on behalf of the defendant begins and is prepared with a specific purpose and purpose (extortion)," said Djamaludin.

The Polda Metro Jaya has named Firli Bahuri as a suspect in the alleged extortion case against SYL on Wednesday (11/22/2023). The case occurred in the jurisdiction of the Polda Metro Jaya in around 2020'2023.

In this case, SYL was charged with extortion and received gratuities totaling Rp44.5 billion in cases of alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture between 2020 and 2023.

The extortion was carried out with Kasdi Subagyono as Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture for the period 2021'2023, and Muhammad Hatta as Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023, among others to pay SYL's personal needs.

SYL was charged with violating Article 12 letter ejuncto Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.