ormer agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo was jailed for 10 years on Thursday after he was found guilty of misappropriating more than $900,000 of public funds. The Jakarta Corruption Court found the Nasdem Party politician guilty of ordering officials in his ministry to send him money from state coffers, some of which was used for his personal expenses. "The defendant .
.. was legally and convincingly proven according to the law to be guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption," said presiding judge Rianto Adam Pontoh.
Judges found he had spent more than $900,000 on personal expenses, including jewelry and beauty treatments for his wife. Syahrul was ordered to repay the funds or have his assets seized by the court. The judges also ordered the 69-year-old to pay a $19,000 fine or face four months of additional jail time.
Delivered straight to your inbox three times weekly, this curated briefing provides a concise overview of the day's most important issues, covering a wide range of topics from politics to culture and society. By registering, you agree with 's Please check your email for your newsletter subscription. Prosecutors had sought a 12-year sentence and $31,000 fine.
The court on Thursday also handed down four-year prison sentences to two former high-ranking officials from the agriculture ministry in connection with Syahrul's case. The defendants have seven days to launch an appeal. Indonesia has arrested scores of public officials for graft in recent years.
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