SYL Asks Jokowi Until JK Becomes A Vulnerable Witness

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK BETWEEN PHOTOS/Aprillio Akbar/aww.

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo alias SYL asked President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to be a witness to mitigate the trial of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities that made him a defendant.

Not only Jokowi, SYL also asked for the willingness of Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, to Jusuf Kalla as a mitigating witness.

"What is clear is that there are about two witnesses, but officially we have written to the president, then to the vice president, the coordinating minister for the economy, and also Mr. Jusuf Kalla who we think they know Pak SYL," said SYL's legal adviser, Djamaludin Koedoeboen, to reporters, Friday, June 7.

The names were applied to be mitigating witnesses because they knew SYL's performance when he served as minister of agriculture.

The high-ranking officials are believed to be able to convey all the things SYL has done for the benefit of Indonesia's family or progress.

"When this problem began to emerge during COVID-19, we saw at the trial that there was discretion from the president and the minister regarding certain circumstances, and for that we really hope that the president as the highest person in charge in this country and because Pak SYL is one of his assistants in order to improve community welfare and maintain national food, and I think SYL's achievements are Rp. 2,200 trillion which we ask for clarification every year," said Koedoeboen.

"Continue to confirm to the president whether what was conveyed by him (SYL) during the trial was true or not so that the public then did not guess or did not have polemics, actually what Pak SYL did for the family or nation and state," he continued.

However, Koedoeboen stated that there had been no reply letter from these names. Therefore, his party already has other plans if Jokowi and other figures cannot be witnesses to mitigate their clients.

"We have also prepared other things if the president is unable, there are state activities, and so on. But, actually we hope that as the head of state and head of government, he should intervene in a situation like this, provide clarification to the public, whether it is blaming or justifying or correcting," said Koedoeboen.

In this case, SYL was charged with extortion of up to Rp44.5 billion during 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 used for the benefit of Syahrul's wife and family, invited gifts, the NasDem Party, religious events, aircraft charters to Umrah and sacrifices. In addition, he was also charged with receiving gratuities of Rp40.6 billion from January 2020 to October 2023.