SYL Cancels Reading Memorandum Of Objection To Extortion Indictment Of IDR 44.5 Billion And Receives Gratification Of IDR 40.6 Billion

Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) at the Central Jakarta District Court (Rizky AP/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL, canceled reading the objection or exception note. This is because the panel of judges decided to postpone the trial today.

Member judge Fahzal Hendri said the reason behind the postponement of the trial was because Chief Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh was hospitalized.

"But because of this, the chairman of the assembly, Mr. Rianto Adam Pontoh, is sick, now he is lying in the hospital, is being treated," said Fahzal during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, March 6.

For that reason, the trial was postponed until March 13. Later, SYL and two other defendants, namely, Kasdi Subagyono and Muhammad Hatta, will read out the exception.

"So, for this trial, I am a member judge 1, so we agreed to postpone this trial, postpone this trial for next week to read out objections or exceptions from the defendants and their legal advisers," said Fahzal.

In the previous trial, SYL was charged with extortion by withdrawing dues to echelon one officials at the Ministry of Agriculture from 2020 to 2023. The total reached Rp44.5 billion.

SYL did not immediately withdraw the contributions to the Ministry of Agriculture echelon officials. Covering money is done through his trusted people.

"The defendant also conveyed that there was a 20 percent share of the budget in each secretariat, directorate, and agency at the Ministry of Agriculture which must be given to the defendant," said the prosecutor.

Not only extortion against para, SYL was also charged with receiving gratuities worth Rp40.6 billion.

"The defendant received money and payments for personal needs and the defendant's family totaling Rp40,647,444,494," said the prosecutor.

The value of receiving gratuities is money that SYL has used for personal and family interests from January 2020 to October 2023.

In this case, Syahrul Yasin Limpo was charged with violating Article 12 letter e and Article 12 letter B Juncto Article 18 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code (KUHP) Juncto Article 64 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.