Former Acting Governor of South Sulawesi Detained Over 60 Billion Rupiah Pineapple Seedlings Corruption Case

Former Acting (Pj) Governor of South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Bahtiar Baharuddin has been detained following his designation as a suspect in an alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of pineapple seedlings by the Department of Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantations in 2024, valued at 60 billion rupiah.

“The detention today marks the first instance involving the initials BB, the former Acting Governor of South Sulawesi,” said Head of the South Sulawesi Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Didik Farkhan Alisyahdi, to journalists on Monday 9 March.

In addition to the former Acting Governor, the prosecutor’s office has designated five other individuals as suspects: HS, serving as an advisor to the Acting Governor; RRS, a civil servant from Takalar Regency and also an activity implementer; RM, director of PT AM as the seedling supplier; and RE, director of PT CAP as the activity implementer.

“Beyond these five suspects, our investigation team has also designated one additional suspect with the initials UN, serving as a budget administrator and commitment maker. However, this individual did not appear for our summons today due to illness,” he stated.

According to calculations by the State Audit Agency (BPKP), Didik noted that state losses were identified in the pineapple seedling procurement of approximately four million seedlings.

“Approximately 60 billion rupiah—we have already calculated this with the BPKP and it will be released shortly,” he said.

Previously, the former Acting Governor Bahtiar Baharuddin, upon leaving the investigator’s office, was wearing a detention vest. The suspects are being held at two different prisons: four at Makassar Prison and one at Maros Prison.

“Four are detained at Makassar Prison and one is detained at Maros Prison,” he stated.

As a result of their actions, the suspects have been charged under Article 603 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning Corruption in conjunction with Article 20 (c) of Law Number 1 of 2003 on Corruption in conjunction with Article 18 (1) (a) and (b) of Law Number 31 of 1999 on Corruption, as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001. Additionally, Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 (1) (a) and (b) of Law Number 31 of 1999 on Corruption, as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 20 (c) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code of Procedure in conjunction with Article 618 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code of Procedure.

“The suspects have been charged under multiple provisions,” he concluded.