PALMOILMAGAZINE, PASANGKAYU – Former Head of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Plantation Office of Pasangkayu Regency, Nazlah, has been indicted for alleged corruption in the 2018 palm oil rejuvenation program. The trial, held on Wednesday, revealed potential state losses amounting to IDR 8.6 billion.
During the hearing, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) stated that Nazlah, who served as Head of Agriculture and Plantation in 2017-2018, was also appointed as Chair of the Palm Oil Rejuvenation Team. This appointment was based on Decree No. 840/2018, issued on May 11, 2018, by the Pasangkayu Agriculture Office.
According to Tribunnews Sulbar, Nazlah was also designated as Chair of the Verification Team under Decree No. 847/2018, issued on May 14, 2018. In this role, she allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Asbir and Sahabuddin, who are being tried separately, to commit corruption.
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The prosecution claims that their actions resulted in a state financial loss of IDR 8,625,292,500, involving budget misuse and irregularities in the implementation of the palm oil rejuvenation program intended for local smallholders in Pasangkayu.
The indictment also references two Supreme Court rulings, Case No. 4122 K/Pid.Sus/2023 (October 4, 2023) and Case No. 5162 K/Pid.Sus/2023 (November 10, 2023), which were considered in the legal proceedings.
The trial is presided over by Chief Judge R. Hendy Nurcahyo Saputro, along with two panel judges, Syamsuardi and I Gede Subagyo. A total of eight prosecutors attended the session to present the charges against the defendant.
This case has drawn public attention, as the palm oil rejuvenation program was originally designed to boost smallholder plantation productivity, rather than becoming a source of corruption that harms both the state and smallholders. (P2)
