SYL Picked Up By Force, Sahroni Asks Polda Metro To Speed Up Allegations Of Extortion Of KPK Leaders

Syahrul Yasin Limpo was forcibly picked up by the KPK/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

General Treasurer (Bendum) of the NasDem Party Ahmad Sahroni asked Polda Metro Jaya to speed up investigating allegations of extortion by the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL). This was conveyed by Sahroni in response to the forced pick-up carried out by the KPK to SYL tonight in the South Jakarta area. SYL is now a suspect in alleged gratification and extortion. According to Sahroni, the SYL, who is also a NasDem cadre, has been cooperative and stated that it will come to fulfill the investigator's summons on Friday, October 13 tomorrow. In the letter sent by the KPK, the SYL examination schedule is scheduled for tomorrow. "Then I will use the authority to ask the police to immediately. If it is true that there is an allegation of extortion, then the police must also do the same. In the end, we must always say that power is absolute, big power, but in this case everything is intimidated with someone's weakness, right? sorry," said Sahroni at NasDem Tower, Jakarta, Thursday, October 12 night. According to Sahroni, SYL is also filing a pretrial against the case that hit him. The KPK should wait for the legal remedies used by SYL. "If it takes time for patience, it takes time not to go through emotions, there is no need to hate. This looks like hatred based in the institution is carried out by people or groups who say that tonight must be arrested," said Sahroni. As previously reported, Syahrul was forcibly picked up in the Kebayoran area, South Jakarta on Thursday night. He immediately underwent an examination at the KPK's Red and White House. Meanwhile, Syahrul Yasin Limpo's lawyer, Febri Diansyah, questioned the basis for his client's forced pick-up. He said Syahrul had actually received a summons for questioning on Friday, October 13. “Pak Syahrul has already received the summons earlier for the inspection schedule tomorrow Friday. He said he would cooperate and confirmed that he would come to the examination tomorrow,” Febri said in a written statement received by VOI, Thursday, October 12. VOI received the summons in question. In it, Syahrul as a suspect in the alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture is scheduled to be examined tomorrow and signed by Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur. The KPK has announced Syahrul and two of his subordinates, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta as suspects on Wednesday, October 11. All three were involved in alleged extortion and gratuities. In this case, Syahrul through his two subordinates was suspected of extorting his employees by requiring to pay the deposit every month. The nominal varies between 4,000-10,000 United States dollars.

It is believed that the money collected does not only come from the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget inflated or mark-ups but from vendors working on projects. The money is given in cash, transfers or goods.