Politics · Indonesia · 12 hrs ago
Court Rejects Bahtiar Baharuddin’s Challenge to Corruption Suspect Status
A court in Makassar rejected former South Sulawesi acting governor Bahtiar Baharuddin’s challenge to his suspect status.
The case concerns alleged corruption in the 2024 procurement of pineapple seedlings.
The judge ruled that the pretrial review examined only whether legal procedures were followed, not whether Bahtiar was guilty.
The judge found prosecutors had at least two valid new pieces of evidence and said earlier evidence could still be used unless a court ruled it invalid.
Bahtiar’s claims that he was not responsible for or involved in the procurement must be considered at trial.
Prosecutors will now complete the investigation file and send the case for prosecution, with the main allegations to be tested in a corruption court.
A Makassar district court rejected Bahtiar Baharuddin’s pretrial challenge to his corruption suspect status.
The ruling leaves Bahtiar a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of pineapple seedlings for the 2024 budget year.
The judge said the pretrial review was limited to formal matters and could not decide the substance of the case.
South Sulawesi prosecutors said they would continue the investigation and complete the case file for prosecution.
- Who
- Bahtiar Baharuddin, a former acting governor of South Sulawesi, and the South Sulawesi prosecutors.
- What
- A judge rejected Bahtiar’s challenge to his designation as a corruption suspect.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Makassar District Court, Makassar, Indonesia.
- Why
- Bahtiar challenged his suspect designation in an alleged corruption case involving pineapple seedling procurement. The judge found that his arguments about involvement in the procurement concerned the substance of the case.
Bahtiar Baharuddin
South Sulawesi prosecutors
Basis for challenge
Bahtiar Baharuddin
Bahtiar argued that as regional head he was not responsible for or involved in the pineapple seedling procurement, and raised objections to the evidence.
South Sulawesi prosecutors
Prosecutors said his suspect designation was lawful and supported by more than two new pieces of valid evidence.
Court review
Bahtiar Baharuddin
Bahtiar’s challenge sought review of his suspect status.
South Sulawesi prosecutors
The judge said the pretrial review covered formal matters only and that the substance of the case must be tested at trial.
The alleged corruption case concerned procurement of pineapple seedlings for this budget year.
Makassar District Court judge Arwana rejected Bahtiar’s pretrial challenge.
Prosecutors said investigators would continue the investigation and complete the case file for prosecution.
- Court
- Makassar District Court
- Judge
- Arwana
- Case number
- 50/Pid.Pra/2026/PN Mks
- Procurement
- Pineapple seedlings for the 2024 budget year
- Prosecuting office
- South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office
What people are saying
The rejection of the pretrial petition today proves that all investigative actions and the re-designation of BB [Bahtiar Baharuddin] as a suspect were carried out professionally, in a measured manner, and lawfully under criminal procedure, supported by more than two new valid pieces of evidence.
After this pretrial ruling, investigators will immediately focus on completing the case file against suspect BB so it can be submitted for prosecution as soon as possible and tried at the Corruption Court to examine the substance of the case.