(11 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jakarta – 11 July 2024
1. Wide of defendants take their seats in front of the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta Courthouse
2. Wide of judge asks the defendant’s readiness to hear the verdict
3. Wide of courtroom during the trial
4. Mid of main defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo looked at the photographer and cameraman
5. Prosecutor’s team
6. The presiding judge asks the defendants to stand to hear the verdict that will be read out
7. Defendants as the judge reads the verdict UPSOUND (Indonesian) Rianto Adam Pontoh, presiding judge: “Therefore, Syahrul Yasin Limpo was sentenced to prison for 10 years and a fine of 300 million rupiah ($18,560) with the provision that if the fine was not paid it would be replaced by an additional four months’ imprisonment.”
8. Defendant’s legal team
9. End of trial, The defendants stand when the judges leave the room
10. Limpo talking to his lawyer
STORYLINE:
Indonesia’s anti-graft court sentenced a former agriculture minister to 10 years in prison Thursday after finding him guilty of corruption-related extortion, abuse of power and bribery involving ministry contracts with private vendors.
The case has tarnished President Joko Widodo’s credibility in fighting corruption.
Five other members of Widodo’s Cabinet have been sentenced to prison terms in corruption cases, casting a shadow over his efforts to clean up the government ahead of his term ending in October.
The court in the capital, Jakarta, ruled that the former Cabinet minister, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, was guilty of abusing his power by enriching himself and other officials. It also ordered him to pay a 300 million rupiah ($18,500) fine, and said he would be subject to another four months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay.
“The defendant has legally and convincingly been proven guilty of corruption,” presiding Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh said. “He wasn’t a good example as a public official, what he has done is counter the government’s efforts to fight corruption and enriched himself by corruption.”
Limpo had been arrested last October by the Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK. He has denied wrongdoing.
Several ministry officials testified during the trial that secretariats, directorates general and agencies within the ministry were required to give up 20% of their budgets to Limpo, as though they were indebted to him, and he threatened their jobs if they rejected his demands. vendors and suppliers were also asked to set aside money to fulfill the then minister’s demands, the trial revealed.
Limpo used the money on luxurious cars, gifts and apartments, charter private jets, family parties and gatherings, and for religious observances and pilgrimages. Limpo also used the bribes to disburse humanitarian aid for disaster victims and to his Nasdem political party.
Prosecutors, who sought 12 years imprisonment for Limpo, said the politician accepted a total of 44.7 billion rupiah ($2.7 million) between January 2020 and October 2023.
In their indictment, prosecutors accused Limpo of ordering his two subordinates, Kasdi Subagyono and Muhammad Hatta, to collect the illicit money. They were each sentenced to four years in prison in separate cases.
During the trial, Limpo said he was the victim of political persecution and felt that he had been slandered by his subordinates in his ministry who feared being replaced or removed from their position.
AP video shot by Triswanto
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