South Sulawesi official named suspect in pineapple seed corruption case

Bahtiar Baharuddin, the former Acting Governor of South Sulawesi, has been named a suspect for a second time in a corruption investigation. The case involves the alleged misappropriation of 60 billion IDR in funds for pineapple seed procurement through the South Sulawesi Department of Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantations for the 2024 fiscal year.

The South Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the suspect status was determined following Baharuddin's examination as a witness. This marks the second time he has been named a suspect in this specific case, and he has subsequently filed a pretrial motion at the Makassar District Court to challenge the legality of the designation. The first time he was named a suspect alongside five others, a judge partially granted his pretrial motion.

While Baharuddin has been designated a suspect, authorities stated he has not been detained at this time.