Jokowi Entrusts Law Enforcers Investigating Allegations Of KPK Leaders Extorting The Minister Of Agriculture

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has entrusted law enforcement to follow up on cases of alleged extortion by KPK leaders against Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) when he was Minister of Agriculture (Mentan).

"I don't know, just ask law enforcement officials, the Corruption Eradication Committee or the Police," said Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday 6 October, as reported by Antara.

Metro Jaya Police is handling reports of alleged extortion carried out by the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) against SYL when he occupied the position of Minister of Agriculture in 2022 regarding handling alleged corruption cases.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Ade Safri Simanjuntak, explained that the report of alleged extortion was received on August 12 2023, through a public complaint (dumas).

The police have not yet revealed who the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leader is in this case.

SYL visited Metro Jaya Police on Thursday 5 October, and long before that he provided information during the investigation at the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The former Governor of South Sulawesi on Thursday 5 October submitted a letter of resignation to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through Minister of State Secretary Pratikno at the Ministry of State Secretariat Office.

SYL then volunteered to appear before President Joko Widodo on Friday 6 October to convey his immediate resignation as minister.

Regarding the SYL legal case at the KPK, the anti-corruption agency on Friday, September 29 2023, announced that it had upgraded the status of the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture to the investigation stage.

The KPK has also named a number of parties as suspects in this case. However, the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) cannot yet announce which parties have been named as suspects because the investigation and evidence collection process is still ongoing.

The Minister of Agriculture SYL's official residence in the Widya Chandra Complex, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was also searched on Thursday, September 28 2023, and evidence was found in the form of cash worth billions of rupiah.

During the search, KPK investigators also found 12 firearms which have now been handed over to Metro Jaya Police for further action.