InfoSAWIT, PASANGKAYU – The former Head of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Plantation Office of Pasangkayu Regency, Nazlah, is undergoing trial for alleged corruption in the palm oil rejuvenation program in 2018. The trial held on Wednesday revealed potential state losses amounting to Rp 8.6 billion.
During the trial, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) read the indictment stating that Nazlah, while serving as the Head of Agriculture and Plantation in Pasangkayu from 2017-2018, also acted as the Chairman of the Palm Oil Rejuvenation Team. This appointment is outlined in the decision letter from the Head of the Pasangkayu Agriculture Office Number 840 of 2018 issued on May 11, 2018.
As reported by InfoSAWIT from Tribunnews Sulbar on Thursday (February 27, 2025), Nazlah also served as the Chairman of the Verification Team based on the decision from the Head of Agriculture Number 847 of 2018 issued on May 14, 2018. In this role, he is alleged to have committed corruption in collusion with two others, Asbir and Sahabuddin, who are undergoing separate trials.
The JPU revealed that the crimes committed by the defendant along with Asbir and Sahabuddin have caused state losses of Rp 8,625,292,500. This alleged corruption includes budget misuse and deviations in the implementation of the palm oil rejuvenation program for farmers in Pasangkayu.
In the indictment, the prosecutor also referred to the considerations of the judges in two previous Supreme Court decisions, namely Case Number 4122 K/Pid.Sus/2023 dated October 4, 2023, and Case Number 5162 K/Pid.Sus/2023 dated November 10, 2023.
The trial is presided over by Chief Judge R. Hendy Nurcahyo Saputro, with two associate judges, Syamsuardi and I Gede Subagyo. Eight public prosecutors attended the trial to read the indictment against the defendant.
This case has drawn public attention, as the palm oil rejuvenation program is supposed to aim at increasing the productivity of smallholder plantations, rather than becoming a breeding ground for corruption that harms the state and farmers. (T2)
