Jakarta. Former Agriculture Minister, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) is accused of extortion and receiving gratifications totaling Rp 44.5 billion ($3.2 million) on his opening trial at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors also charge SYL's accomplices, former Ministry of Agriculture Secretary-General Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Tools and Machinery Muhammad Hatta. 

"Intending to benefit himself or others illegally or by abusing power, [they] forced individuals, namely officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and their staff, to provide something, pay or receive payments with deductions or perform certain tasks for [themselves]," said the KPK prosecutor during the trial.

Prosecutors claim that the defendants received money, which SYL used to cover personal and family needs. SYL appointed several trusted individuals to occupy positions within the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate his duties.

"Around early 2020, in the Minister's office in South Jakarta, the defendant (SYL) gathered and instructed his staff Imam Mujahidin Fahmid, Kasdi Subagyono, Muhammad Hatta, and Panji Harjanto (SYL's aide) to collect 'contributions' from officials at the Ministry of Agriculture," revealed the KPK prosecutor.

According to the indictment, the collected money was used for SYL's personal and family needs. SYL also determined a 20 percent share from the budget of each secretariat, directorate, and agency within the Ministry, which had to be handed over to him.

"The defendant conveyed to the subordinates that if the officials could not fulfill the defendant's request, their positions were in jeopardy," said the KPK prosecutor.

The officials who could not contribute to SYL could be reassigned or suspended from their duties. Officials not aligned with SYL were also asked to resign.

SYL's legal adviser, Djamaluddin Koedoboen, stated that SYL was quite surprised by the charges presented by the public prosecutor during this initial trial.

"We all know that the initial claim by our colleagues at the KPK was around Rp 13.9 billion, and then today, in this trial, it has risen to more than Rp 44 billion. The value is very fantastic, but we still respect it," he said.

Djamaluddin mentioned that the money was used for travel and official activities as a government official. He denied that the extortion money was used to benefit SYL personally.

"This is something we regret. We respect the charges. We express our gratitude to the public prosecutor for the charges," he stated.

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