Indonesia’s anti-corruption court has sentenced a former agriculture minister to 10 years in prison for corruption-related offenses, including extortion, abuse of power, and bribery linked to ministry contracts with private vendors.
This case has dented President Joko Widodo’s credibility in his anti-corruption campaign.
Five other Cabinet members under Widodo have also been imprisoned for corruption, casting doubt on his administration’s efforts to eliminate government corruption as his term nears its end in October.
The Jakarta court found former minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo guilty of exploiting his position for personal gain.
Limpo was also ordered to pay a $18,500 (Ksh.2.4 million) fine, with an additional four months in prison if he fails to pay.
“The defendant has legally and convincingly been proven guilty of corruption,” stated presiding Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh
. “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.”
Arrested last October by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Limpo has denied any wrongdoing.
Ministry officials testified that various departments were coerced into handing over 20% of their budgets to Limpo under threat of losing their jobs.
Vendors were also pressured to set aside funds to meet his demands.
The trial revealed Limpo spent the money on luxury cars, gifts, apartments, private jets, family gatherings, and religious observances.
He also used bribes to distribute humanitarian aid and support his Nasdem political party.
Prosecutors, who had sought a 12-year sentence, stated Limpo accepted $2.7 million between January 2020 and October 2023.
The indictment revealed he instructed subordinates Kasdi Subagyono and Muhammad Hatta to collect the illegal funds; both received four-year sentences.
Limpo claimed during the trial that he was a victim of political persecution, asserting that his subordinates, fearing for their positions, slandered him.
“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.”
President Widodo had campaigned on a promise to clean up government corruption, a significant issue in Indonesia, which ranked 115th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Limpo, previously the governor of South Sulawesi, is the second Nasdem Party politician recently prosecuted.
Johnny G. Plate, a former communication minister, received a 15-year sentence for embezzling $533 million in the construction of mobile phone transmission towers in remote areas.
Corruption remains a significant problem in Indonesia.
The KPK, one of the country’s few effective institutions, faces frequent attacks from lawmakers seeking to limit its powers.
Since its inception in 2003, the KPK has arrested around 250 local parliament members, 133 regents and mayors, 18 governors, 83 national parliament members, and 12 ministers.
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