SYL's Request To Move To Salemba Rutan Was Granted By The Judge, KPK: We Hope It's Not A Mode

Head of KPK News Section Ali Fikri (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regrets the Panel of Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN) granted a request for a transfer of detention centers submitted by former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo. It is hoped that there will be no other purpose from this effort.

"We hope this will not become a mode of avoidance," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters in a written statement, Thursday, March 28.

Ali said that the judge was juridically responsible for Syahrul as a prisoner.

"However, the physical responsibility and care of detainees will certainly remain in the detention center and the public prosecutor," he said.

Moreover, the KPK considers that there is actually no reason for Syahrul to be transferred to another detention center. This is because the East Jakarta Class I Detention Center KPK Branch actually has facilities with the standards set by the Directorate General of PAS Kemenkumham.

"Including services and supporting aspects for the health of the residents," said Ali.

Ali ensured that the KPK detention center had various sports facilities and open spaces for joint activities in order to maintain the health of the detainees. In addition, there are also clinics and medicines so that they can get treatment.

"And (resilients, ed) can make referrals to other health facilities if according to the doctor's consideration it is needed," he said.

Syahrul previously asked to be transferred to another detention center because he had problems with his lungs. He admitted that he had difficulty breathing in the KPK detention center because the air circulation was considered not good.

"Allow, Your Honor, I happened to have had a big operation a few years ago and my lungs were only half. So, there was a cancer cut there," said Syahrul during the trial last Wednesday, March 20.

The judge then decided that Syahrul could move to the Salemba Class I Detention Center, East Jakarta. This decision was read out after reading the interlocutory verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Wednesday, March 27 yesterday.

"Stipulates, one, granting the request of the legal advisor team for the defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo. Two, giving permission to move the detention place for the defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo from the East Jakarta Class I KPK state detention center branch to be transferred to the Salemba Class I state detention house, Central Jakarta since March 27, 2024,"

As previously reported, Syahrul was charged with extortion of up to Rp44.5 billion in the 2020-2023 period. This action was carried out together with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Directorate General of Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta.

This money was then used for the benefit of Syahrul's wife and family, invited gifts, the NasDem Party, religious events, aircraft charters to Umrah and sacrifices. Then, he was also charged with receiving gratuities of Rp40.6 M from January 2020 to October 2023.