Jakarta. Former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo offered an apology to National Democratic Party (Nasdem) Chairman Surya Paloh shortly after a court hearing on Thursday, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for corruption.

Syahrul, a Nasdem politician, was found guilty of accepting more than Rp 44 billion ($2.7 million) in bribes while in office. The panel of judges ordered him to return the stolen money to the state or face an additional four years in prison.

“I thank Mr. Surya Paloh, who has always taught me about the issues facing the nation -- my apologies for the mistakes I made as a human,” Syahrul said at the Central Jakarta District Court after the sentencing hearing.

“Now, as I’m heading to prison, I extend my apologies to my family and the people of Bugis, Makassar, Mandar, and Toraja who have lent their support,” he added.

Syahrul is the second Nasdem minister to be convicted of corruption, following Johnny Plate, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in November.

He is also the sixth active minister in President Joko Widodo’s cabinet to become a graft suspect and later be convicted.

“I thank President Joko Widodo for giving me the opportunity to serve as his minister. What is happening now is a risk of the job I had to take,” he said.

Syahrul has not yet announced whether he plans to appeal the verdict. He has seven days to respond to the ruling.

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