Jakarta, Hilton News –
Syahril Yasin Limpo’s (SYL) lawyer, Djamaludin Koedoeboen said his client went for Umrah using money from the Ministry of Agriculture (Kemenan) because he was also carrying out an official trip.
Koedoeboen said this was corroborated by the testimony of one of the witnesses who stated that there was a signing of an MoU or memorandum of understanding in Makkah.
“The person concerned is if what we remember is that he also went for Umrah and there was a signing of the MoU in Makkah,” Koedoeboen told reporters at the Jakarta District Court, Wednesday (22/5).
According to him, the witness was also involved in signing the MoU because the person concerned made considerations or brief descriptions of the points of thought that became the background and reasons for making decisions.
“He made the consideration of the MoU. And that’s what we’re going to dig up so we can find the facts, the material truth that actually what happened,” he said.
That way, said Koedoeboen, the accusation that the Umrah activity was a personal interest of SYL was refuted. Moreover, several echelons I and II participated in the activity.
“Then others, also said earlier that from the gathering it turned out to be for the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, it was explained that then departed echelon I, echelon II, then they took a plane, they took a jet everywhere, so it was not for him to personally make the money,” he said.
SYL as a NasDem Party politician was tried for alleged extortion cases of up to IDR 44,546,079,044 and gratuities were considered bribes of IDR 40,647,444,494 during the 2020-2023 period.
The crime was committed by SYL together with two other defendants, namely Secretary General of the Ministry Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Tools and Machinery, Directorate General of Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta.
SYL was also prosecuted by the KPK for alleged Money Laundering (TPPU). The case is still rolling in the investigation stage.
(ryn/fra)
[Image:HN Video]