After finding him guilty of extortion, misuse of authority, and bribery concerning government contracts with private vendors, an anti-graft court in Indonesia handed down a 10-year jail term to a former minister of agriculture on July 11th.
Syahrul Yasin Limpo’s sentencing casts doubt on President Joko Widodo’s last attempts to clean up government, as he becomes the sixth member of his Cabinet to get a jail term in a corruption case.
The former minister was found guilty of misusing his office by benefiting himself and others by a court in Jakarta, the capital. If he does not pay the fine of $18,500 as ordered, he faces an additional four months in jail.
The presiding judge, Rianto Adam Pontoh, has declared Limpo guilty of corruption. Last October, Limpo was taken into custody on charges that he had colluded with corrupt officials to undermine their anti-corruption operations while simultaneously enriching himself. Limpo, according to many ministry officials who testified during the trial, treated agencies as if they were beholden to him and wanted 20% of their budgets. Limpo also requested that vendors and suppliers save up funds to meet his requests. The funds were used for extravagant automobiles, presents, residences, private aircraft, parties, religious ceremonies, and pilgrimages. Humanitarian relief for catastrophe victims and Limpo’s Nasdem political organization were both funded by bribery.
Limpo was charged with receiving $2.7 million from January 2020 to October 2023, and prosecutors sought a 12-year jail term.
Claiming to have been the target of political persecution, Limpo felt defamed by subordinates who were afraid for their jobs.
Upon hearing the judges’ decision, Limpo and the prosecution informed the justices that they were contemplating an appeal.
Limpo, the ex-governor of South Sulawesi, is the second Nasdem Party official to face trial in the last several years. In 2023, Johnny G. Plate’s 15-year jail term was a result of corruption during the installation of cell towers in the far regions of Indonesia.
Legislators in Indonesia often strive to weaken the anti-graft commission, despite the fact that corruption is pervasive throughout the nation.
With a country that scored 115th out of 180 in last year’s Corruption Perceptions Index issued by Transparency International, President Widodo campaigned in part on a promise to run a clean administration.
Prabowo Subianto, who will succeed Widodo as president in October, has also promised to combat corruption.