Indonesia’s anti-graft court sentenced a former agriculture minister to 10 years in prison on Thursday after finding him guilty of corruption-related extortion, abuse of power, and bribery involving ministry contracts with private vendors.
This case has damaged President Joko Widodo’s credibility in his fight against corruption. Five other members of Widodo’s Cabinet have also been sentenced to prison for corruption, casting a shadow over his efforts to clean up the government as his term ends in October.
The court in Jakarta found that former Cabinet minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo abused his power for personal gain and the enrichment of other officials. He was also fined 300 million rupiah ($18,500) and faces an additional four months in prison if he fails to pay.
“The defendant has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of corruption,” said presiding Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh. “He did not set a good example as a public official, countering the government’s efforts to fight corruption and enriching himself through corrupt means.”
Limpo was arrested last October by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He has denied any wrongdoing.
During the trial, several ministry officials testified that various departments within the ministry were required to give up 20% of their budgets to Limpo, under threat of losing their jobs if they refused. Vendors and suppliers were also pressured to set aside money for Limpo’s demands. The trial revealed that Limpo used the money for luxurious cars, gifts, apartments, chartered private jets, family parties, and religious observances. He also used the bribes for humanitarian aid and to support his Nasdem political party.
Prosecutors, who sought a 12-year sentence, said Limpo accepted a total of 44.7 billion rupiah ($2.7 million) between January 2020 and October 2023. They accused Limpo of ordering his subordinates, Kasdi Subagyono and Muhammad Hatta, to collect the illicit money. Both were sentenced to four years in prison in separate cases.
During the trial, Limpo claimed to be a victim of political persecution and said his subordinates had slandered him out of fear of being replaced or removed from their positions. “I never received any information about their objection to any of my orders,” Limpo said. “If they think it’s wrong, they should consult and discuss with me first.”
Widodo campaigned on a pledge to run a clean government in a country ranked 115th out of 180 nations in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International.
Limpo, a former governor of South Sulawesi, is the second politician from the Nasdem Party to face prosecution recently. Johnny G. Plate, a former communication minister, was sentenced to 15 years in prison over $533 million in graft related to the construction of mobile phone transmission towers in remote areas.
Corruption is endemic in Indonesia, and the KPK, one of the few effective institutions in the country of nearly 270 million people, is frequently under attack by lawmakers seeking to reduce its powers. Since its founding in late 2003, the KPK has arrested around 250 local parliament members, 133 regents and mayors, 18 governors, 83 national parliament members, and 12 ministers.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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