Ahead Of The Decision, The SYL Kubu Yakin Panel Of Judges Consider Pleidoi

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

The former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) believes that the memorandum of defense or plea that has been submitted will be taken into consideration by the panel of judges in making decisions.

The trial for reading the verdicts of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities with the defendants SYL, Kasdi Subagyono, and Muhammad Hatta, is scheduled to be held Thursday, July 11.

SYL's legal adviser, Sri Sindowati, said that there were several important points in her client's plea that should be considered. First, regarding the absence of witnesses that corroborate the prosecutor's indictment regarding orders for derivatives or requests for money from SYL.

Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (PSP) Ali Jamil Harahap and employees of the Ministry of Agriculture's general bureau firmly replied that they had never heard directly from SYL regarding the order.

Even with the former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono who also mentioned that SYL actually ordered his subordinates to reject any request on behalf of him.

Thus, the testimony of the witnesses showing the indictment and demands of the prosecutor regarding SYL committing extortion cannot be fully proven.

"Witness testimony (Panji Hartanto and several witnesses, ed) only heard from other people who only said 'he said'," Sri Sindowati told reporters, Monday, July 8.

Referring to Article 1 point 26 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Sri continued, witnesses are people who provide information based on what is heard, seen or experienced by themselves.

Not only that, the provisions of Article 185 paragraph (6) of the Criminal Procedure Code also emphasize that the assessment of the truth of a witness' testimony is based on the agreement between the testimony of one witness and another.

"Meanwhile, the testimony of witness Panji is not in accordance with the testimony of witnesses and other facts so that the testimony of witness Panji is not worthy of being trusted by his statement," said Sri.

On that basis, what SYL said in the pledoi should be considered by the judge. Moreover, his client also includes video evidence of witness testimony that confirms this.

"The Pledoi that he conveyed was very comprehensive and detailed in denying the prosecutor's charges and demands," said Sri.

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.