SYL's Subordinates Asked For Deposits: Geleng-Geleng Head, Here's How

Director General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Prihasto Setyanto said that he was confused in preparing money to meet the needs of non-budgeters Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

He conveyed this when he was a witness to the trial of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities for the defendants SYL, Kasdi Subagyono, and Muhammad Hatta, Wednesday, May 15.

It started when the Public Prosecutor (JPU) questioned the reason Prihasto Setyanto was still willing to meet SYL's non-budgeting needs.

"It was said earlier that the money did not have a budget, yes there was no budget in... or a budget in the ministry. Why do you want to fulfill that, how do you want it?" asked the prosecutor during a trial at the Corruption Court.

"Because everything was really asked like that," replied Prihasto.

Then, the prosecutor questioned whether or not the witness ever explained that there was no budget to meet SYL's personal needs.

At that time, Prihasto stated that he had conveyed this matter. However, it is still being fulfilled.

In fact, the Director General of Horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture admitted that he was confused about making money to fulfill the request.

"We have said that at that time, ma'am.. it was conveyed to the deceased, the deceased reported to us, then at that time we were also shaking our heads how to do this," he said.

Hearing this statement, the prosecutor then questioned whether there was coercion against him to fulfill the request.

Prihasto said that the form of coercion he experienced was being billed by the defendants Kasdi Subagyono and Muhammad Hatta.

"Yes, continue to be asked, when will this solve, when will this solve," he said.

"Oleh kalau tidak pak Hatta, kasdi kalau tidak, itu menanyakan," sambung Prihasto.

Not only coercion, the witness also said that he had heard of the consequences if he did not fulfill the request. One of them lost his position.

"In person, the consequences are that we haven't seen it yet, but of course we continue to be asked about how to finish when this was resolved. Yes, we heard that there were several echelons II that we saw that had been dismissed," said Prihasto.