Court increases ex-agriculture minister's sentence to 12 years

Chief Judge Artha Theresia (middle) reads out the appeal verdict on the corruption case of former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the Jakarta High Court on Tuesday (September 10, 2024). (ANTARA/Fath Putra Mulya/rst)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The panel of judges at the Jakarta High Court increased the sentence of former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) to 12 years in prison from the previous 10 years' imprisonment.

SYL was proven to have committed corruption within the Ministry of Agriculture.

The court also increased the fine imposed on SYL, from the original Rp300 million (US$18 thousand) subsidiary to four months in prison to Rp500 million (US$31 thousand) subsidiary to four months' imprisonment.

"Reinforcing the Decision of the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court Number 20/Pid.Sus-TPK/2024/PN Jkt Pst dated July 11, 2024, by changing the prison sentence and compensation imposed on the defendant," Chief Judge Artha Theresia stated while reading the verdict at the appeal level at the Jakarta High Court on Tuesday.

The high court also changed the compensation imposed on SYL, namely to Rp44,269,777,204 (US$2.7 million) plus US$30 thousand. The replacement money must be paid no later than one month after the verdict has permanent legal force.

If no payment were to be made, then SYL's assets would be confiscated and auctioned by the prosecutor to cover the replacement money. If the convict does not have sufficient assets, he will be sentenced to five years in prison, Theresia remarked.

On June 28, the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) public prosecutor charged SYL with 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp500 million (US$31 thousand), subsidiary to six months in prison, as well as replacement money of Rp44.27 billion (US$2.7 million) and US$30 thousand minus the amount of money that has been confiscated and seized.

However, the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on July 11 sentenced SYL to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp300 million (US$18 thousand), subsidiary to four months in prison.

In addition to the main sentence, the panel of judges also imposed an additional sentence in the form of payment of compensation on SYL of Rp14.14 billion (US$886 thousand) plus US$30 thousand, subsidiary to two years in prison.

The KPK did not accept the verdict of the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, as it did not match the demands. Hence, the KPK filed an appeal.