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Former agriculture minister gets 10 years in prison for bribery
Of the total Rp 44.3 billion and $30,000 Syahrul accepted, judges found that the former minister only used around Rp 14.1 billion and $30,000 for his personal use, as some expenses were deemed reasonable to be taken from the ministry's budget, despite the illicit method of obtaining the money.
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Former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (center) enters the courtroom ahead of the verdict hearing against him at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Jakarta on July 11, 2024. A panel of judges finds him guilty of soliciting bribes and accepting gratuities from his colleagues at the Agriculture Ministry, punishing him with a 10-year imprisonment, a Rp 300 million fine as well as Rp 14.1 trillion and US$30,000 in restitutions. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
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panel of judges of the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced former agriculture minister and NasDem Party politician Syahrul Yasin Limpo to 10 years in prison after the court found him guilty of soliciting bribes from other officials at the Agriculture Ministry.
The bench also ordered Syahrul to pay a fine of Rp 300 million (US$18,545) as well as Rp 14.1 billion and US$30,000 in restitutions, presiding judge Rianto Adam Pontoh read out from the ruling during a hearing on Thursday.
The sentence was lighter than the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors’ demand of 12 years’ imprisonment, a Rp 500 million fine and restitution fees amounting to Rp 44.3 billion and $30,000.
“Among the mitigating factors are that the defendant is already old and had made a positive contribution as the agriculture minister in handling the food crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic,” judge Rianto said, adding that the defendant’s complicated testimony during the trial was one of the aggravating factors.
Judges concluded that Syahrul was guilty of accepting bribes between January 2020 and October of last year during his tenure at the ministry.
Syahrul ordered his four subordinates, including the ministry’s former secretary-general Kasdi Subagyono and former agricultural machinery equipment director Muhammad Hatta, to collect money from various divisions within the Agriculture Ministry.
The money collected from each secretariat, directorate general and agency amounted to up to 20 percent of their budget, despite there being no allocation for the minister in the official budget.
