Firli Bahuri Finally Admits Meeting SYL At Badminton Field After Denying Only Met At Ratas

Photos of KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri with Syahrul Yasin Limpo met at the Badminton Sports Center, Jakarta area on March 2, 2022. ANTARA/HO

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri recently admitted that he met former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo. In fact, his first rebuttal admitted that he only met during a limited meeting (ratas) at the State Palace, Jakarta. After the photo met Syahrul went viral, Firli Bahuri finally opened his voice today, Monday, October 9. Through his written statement, the former member of the Bhayangkara Corps admitted that he had met the NasDem Party politician in a badminton field. "The meeting in the badminton field between me and the Minister of Agriculture at that time, Syahrul Yasin Limpo's brother occurred before the period (the investigation began, ed) to be precise around March 2, 2022," Firli said as quoted from his statement Monday, October 9. Firli said his meeting with Syahrul was not related to the corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) which was investigated in January 2023. "So at that time Syahrul Yasin Limpo's brother was not a suspect, the defendant, the convict or the litigant," he said. "The incident was not at my initiation or invitation," continued Firli. This statement is different from what Firli made before the photo of his meeting was polemic. On October 5 in the middle of a press conference for the detention of the suspect, he admitted that he had never met Syahrul. Firli at that time said he only met Syahrul in a limited meeting. "Even at that time I always talked to the ministers before the parpiurna cabinet meeting was taken photos of him,” he said. "Jadi saya pastikan bahwa kami tidak pernah melakukan hubungan dengan para pihak apalagi meminta sesuatu atau disebut dengan pemerasan. Saya kloskan itu tidak pernah dilakukan sesuai yang dituduhkan,” sambung Firli. In addition, he also said that he did not know any of the staff or officials under Syahrul while in office. " none of the officials under my minister know me," said Firli. As previously reported, photos of Firli and Syahrul allegedly meeting circulated amid the investigation into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture. It is not clear when the meeting was held by the two of them in a badminton sports arena (gor). In the photo, Firli is seen wearing a dark sports shirt with white accents and black shorts and sports shoes. Meanwhile, Syahrul was seen wearing a shirt and jeans. They sat on a long bench and seemed to be talking. Syahrul looked back at the camera. In addition to this photo, there is a chronology circulating about the meeting between Firli and Syahrul in a sports gor. Journalists received the document via text message on Thursday, October 5 but its origin is unknown. In the document, the meeting between Firli and Syahrul was said to have taken place in December 2022. The meeting resulted in the provision of Rp1 billion in Singapore dollar denominations. As for the cases handled by the KPK, Syahrul was entangled along with two of his subordinates. They are the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta.

The KPK revealed that three corruption clusters were handled, namely extortion related to positions, gratuities, and money laundering (TPPU).