SYL Presents Easing Experts At Today's Extortion And Gratification Case Session

The trial with the defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the Central Jakarta District Court (Rizky AP/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL will present criminal experts at the follow-up trial of cases of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

SYL's legal adviser, Djamaludin Koedoeboen, said the experts presented would provide an outlook to refute the indictment from the Public Prosecutor (JPU).

"The criminal expert, Prof Agus Surono, is from the University of Pancasila Jakarta," Koedoeboen told reporters, Wednesday, June 12.

In this trial, the SYL camp only presented one mitigating expert. Because, previously other experts had also been present.

"Only one," 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.