Polda Metro Checks Semarang Police Chief Investigate Case Of Alleged KPK Leaders Extorting SYL

JAKARTA - Semarang Police Chief Kombes Irwan Anwar was questioned by Polda Metro Jaya regarding the alleged case of the head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) extorting former Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

This was confirmed by the Director of Special Criminal Investigation (Dirkrimsus) Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Pol Ade Safri Simanjuntak. Irwan was examined as a witness at the stage of investigating this case.

"It is true (Semarang Police Chief Irwan Anwar) is one of the WITNESSES who has been clarified at the investigation stage," said Ade in a short message, Sunday, October 8.

Ade said Irwan was one of the six witnesses who had been examined. Although he did not specify regarding this examination, Ade revealed that investigators would reschedule the examination of Irwan Anwar.

"After this fingerprinting stage, a summons will be scheduled for the person concerned to be questioned as a witness," he continued.

Now, Polda Metro Jaya has upgraded the status of the alleged extortion case committed by KPK officials to SYL to the investigation stage. The decision is based on the results of the case title.

"From the results of the implementation of the case title, it is then recommended to increase the status of the investigation to the investigation stage of alleged corruption in the form of extortion," said Ade.

Circulating photos showing KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri, meeting with SYL. Ade said he would study the photo and maauk in the investigation material that would be explored

The photos and meetings will be investigated as a result of recommendations from the case title process which was carried out on Friday, October 6, yesterday.

The investigation was carried out on the basis of alleged violation of Article 65 in conjunction with Article 36 of the KPK Law. Where, investigators are prohibited from dealing with parties who are litigating.

"There is a prohibition on direct or indirect contact with the suspect or other parties related to the handling of corruption crimes committed by the corruption eradication commission for any reason," said Ade.

Meanwhile, in the circulating photo, Firli and Syahrul allegedly met at a badminton sports arena (gor). It is not clear when the meeting was.

Firli, still in the same photo, 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 also 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.

Meanwhile, Firli denied the accusation of receiving Rp1 billion in Singapore dollar denominations as circulated. He conveyed this objection during a press conference on the sidelines of determining the suspect in the alleged corruption of Mayor Bima Muhammad Lutfi on Thursday, October 5 yesterday.

"I make sure it doesn't exist. There is a lot of one billion dollars in it," Firli told reporters at a press conference at the KPK Red Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 5.

KPK investigators on September 29, 2023 announced that they had raised the status of the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture to the investigation stage.

Although it stated that it had named a number of parties as suspects in the case, the KPK has not announced who the parties have been named as suspects because the investigation and collection of evidence is still ongoing.