[exim] Strange error from exim -bV

So I am at the end of my thinking capacity because if this error:

2020-11-22 15:37:25.686 cwd=/var/log/exim4 2 args: exim -bV
2020-11-22 15:37:25.691 Exim configuration error in line 3 of
/etc/exim4/exim4-ldap-config.conf:
  option setting expected:    debug_print = "R: user_ad_aliases for
$local_part@$domain"

The file contains:

<cut>
# Samba AD users
user_ad_aliases:
   debug_print = "R: user_ad_aliases for $local_part@$domain"
   driver = redirect
   domains = +local_domains
   data = ${lookup ldapm {user=LOCAL_AD_BIND_DN pass=LOCAL_AD_PASS \
          ldap:///LOCAL_AD_BASE_DN?mail?sub?(memberOf=${lookup \
          ldapdn{user=LOCAL_AD_BIND_DN pass=LOCAL_AD_PASS \
          ldap:///LOCAL_AD_BASE_DN??sub?(mail=${quote_ldap:$local_part@
$domain})}})}}

dovecot:
debug_print = "R: dovecot for $local_part@$domain"
driver = accept
domains = +local_domains
transport = dovecot_virtual_delivery
cannot_route_message = Unknown user
</cut>

If I comment out the mentioned line, the error then points to the next
line, and so forth.
If I completely comment out the file, which I am including in the routers
section, the error goes away.
Not sure what is wrong with the contents of this file.



--
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223
"Oh, the cruft.", grep ^[^#] :-)