KPK Searches The House Of Corruption Defendant At The Ministry Of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta

JAKARTA - The investigating team of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Sunday searched the house of one of the defendants in the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture, namely the Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023 Muhammad Hatta (MH) located in Parepare City, South Sulawesi.

"It is true that there is a search activity in question and it is still ongoing," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri when confirmed in Jakarta, Sunday, 19 Meni.

Ali explained that the house of the defendant MH which was searched was located in Bumi Harapan Village, West Bacukiki District, Parepare City. However, Ali has not provided further information about the findings of the investigation team because the search process is still ongoing.

The KPK investigating team in the last few days has been carrying out activities in the South Sulawesi region related to the investigation of alleged extortion and corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture with the accused former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

The extortion was carried out with Kasdi Subagyono as Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture for the period 2021-2023 and Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023 Muhammad Hatta as coordinator of the collection of money from echelon I officials and his staff, among others, to pay SYL's personal needs.

Previously, on Thursday (16/5) the KPK investigating team searched the house of one of SYL's families on Jalan Letjen Hertasning, Makassar City, South Sulawesi.

The house belongs to SYL's younger brother, Andi Tenri Angka, wife of the late Andi Darussalam Tabusala (ADS), the former chairman of PSSI South Sulawesi as well as a sports figure in South Sulawesi.

The KPK investigation team previously also confiscated one of SYL's housing units in the Pandang Village area, Panakukang District, Makassar as evidence on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. It is estimated that the value of the house, said Ali Fikri, is around Rp. 4.5 billion and the source of the money is from MH, the former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture who is also SYL's confidant.

To note, SYL is currently undergoing a trial for alleged corruption at the Jakarta Corruption Court on charges of extortion and receiving gratuities totaling Rp44.5 billion in cases of alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture between 2020 and 2023.

SYL was charged with violating Article 12 letter e in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code (KUHP) jo. Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.