JAKARTA: An ex-minister has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for misappropriating more than 14.1 billion rupiah ( US$ 900, 000 ) of public money for his personal use.  ,
Former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo was found guilty on Thursday ( Jul 11 ) of using public funds to pay his wife’s expenses, including private jet travel and jewelry.
Syahrul was also fined 300 million rupiah, which if not paid, may get replaced by an additional prison sentence of four weeks, as well as US$ 30, 000 in recompense, according to presiding judge Rianto Adam Pontoh, as quoted by local media.
Syahrul is the fifth person to serve in the current president’s government to receive a prison sentence for a corruption charge.  ,
Syahrul explained to reporters following the hearing that the corruption event was a result of his work as a cabinet minister.  ,
” The 10-year jail sentence is not easy, but I’m glad that when I was also a minister, the Agriculture Ministry and the chairman received 71 prizes”, he said, as quoted in the Jakarta Post.  ,
He added that he never intended to use the funds for anything specific.
In addition to some subordinates, Syharul had instructed former minister of crops, Kasdi Subagyono, and former chairman of agricultural equipment and machinery at the department Muhammad Hatta, along with several subordinates, to collect the money, which he considered to be his 20 % share of the funds, from each secretary, director, and company within the government between January 2020 and October 2023.
The 69-year-old legislator, who served as crops minister from 2019 to 2023, even threatened to fire or transfer any employees who refused to follow his instructions.  ,
Judge Rianto stated in the conviction that Syahrul was found guilty of ordering his ministry of agriculture employees to pay him money, some of which was used for his personal charges.
” The plaintiff… was lawfully and persuasively proven according to the law to be guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption”, said Judge Rianto, as quoted by the Jakarta Post.
Syahrul  was found guilty of abusing his position as secretary by ordering his wealth to be used for his family’s needs.
More than 14.1 billion ringgit and an extra US$ 30, 000 were the total amount of cash he and his household benefited from the misused funds.
The court ordered the National Democratic ( Nasdem ) Party politician to pay restitution for the funds that were misplaced, failing which the court would seize his assets and sentence him to additional imprisonment.  ,
Prosecutors had immediately sought a 12-year statement and a US$ 31, 000 good for Syahrul, while his two government employees, Kasdi and Muhammad, were likewise sentenced to four years in prison and fined 200 million ringgit. A second two months in prison may be imposed if the fine is not paid.
The accused have seven nights to appeal.
Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto, a spokeswoman for the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) expressed gratitude for the decision. She said that because the word was lower than the trial had requested, it is still available to appeal.
The attorney will give the verdict to the KPK officials, according to Mdm Tessa. After that, they may decide the next step.
” In contrast, the day will be used to charm, or take the verdict”, he said.
Additionally, according to CNN Indonesia, Mdm Tessa stated that KPK may also look into SYL’s home for possible money-laundering crimes.  ,