Demanded 12 Years In Prison, SYL: Prosecutors Don't Consider Indonesia's Situation

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) responded to the Public Prosecutor (JPU) who charged him with imprisonment for 12 years.

According to him, the prosecutor did not consider his performance in dealing with the food crisis that occurred in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The prosecutor's demand, which is 12 years old for me, I see not considering the situation we are facing where Indonesia is in an extraordinary threat position. Facing COVID, facing a world food crisis," said SYL after the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Friday, June 28.

In fact, President Joko Widodo in his speech said that around 340 million people in the world would experience hunger. So, at that time, SYL was asked to take extraordinary steps so that Indonesia would avoid this threat.

"I see that all of this is not considered what we were doing at that time," he said

"There was El nino who hit the whole world, there was a disease that came not only COVID but antraks and PMK. The price of soybeans rose, tofu rose, tempeh prices rose, it would happen. I maneuvered there," continued SYL.

SYL emphasized that everything he did was not for his personal interests. Starting from the plane rental and others, it is said to support his actions so that Indonesia is not in a state of food crisis.

"Everything that is done at the Ministry of Agriculture with a value of Rp44 billion is compared to the contribution of the Ministry of Agriculture every year above Rp2,400 trillion, which you are looking for Rp44 billion for 4 years and it's all for aircraft rental, helicopters, is it personal? Is it private official travel abroad?" said SYL.

Therefore, SYL will convey everything he has done for the nation and state in the next trial. The former minister hopes that the panel of judges can understand all of his actions.

"But let the legal process be. I believe in the KPK, in the existing process. Therefore tomorrow at the time of the deforestation I will convey everything that is natural about the rules about what happened at the Ministry of Agriculture," said SYL.