Prosecutors To SYL: The Drama Of Puitis Defense While Crying Doesn't Remove Crimes

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/PHOTO follow-up Session: Rizky Adytia-VOI

The Public Prosecutor (JPU) said that the defense of the defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) who used poetic language while crying would not remove the crime charged in the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities within the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

The statement was made by Attorney Meyer Simanjuntak while reading the replica at the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, July 8.

"The defense drama delivered by the defendant in a poetic language and a crying face, does not erase the crimes charged by the public prosecutor," Meyer said.

It was also said that the poetic defense would not make the trial fact disappear about SYL's acts of corruption while serving as Minister of Agriculture (Mentan).

"It doesn't make us all forget the facts of the trial that clearly contains corrupt acts that are so rampant by the defendant at the same time serving as minister of agriculture," he said.

On that basis, the prosecutor assessed that the 12-year prison sentence given to SYL was considered fair. Because, there are many mitigating considerations behind it.

However, SYL and his attorney did not realize this. Instead, they felt innocent and asked to be released under the pretext that everything they did was solely for the benefit of the service.

"The sentence is 12 years in prison, it feels fair in the hope that it can be accepted by the defendant and the defendant can repent and improve himself afterward," Meyer said.

In the case of extortion and gratification, Syahrul Yasin Limpo was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison. He was also asked to pay compensation of around Rp. 44 billion and US$ 30 thousand.

The claim was given because the prosecutor believed that SYL violated Article 12 letter e in conjunction with Article 18 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the 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.