Crown Witness Says SYL Issues Instructions, Bans Echelon From Serving Family

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL is said to have issued instructions for all levels of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). It contained an order to reject anyone who asked for a project or something.

The statement was made by the former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kasdi Subagyono, who is now a witness to the crown for SYL and former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery (Alsintan), Muhammad Hatta.

It started when Chief Justice Rianto Adam Pontoh questioned whether or not SYL had banned the director-general or echelon I from serving requests on behalf of ministers.

Kasdi at that time agreed. To his knowledge, SYL often emphasized to all Ministry of Agriculture officials not to serve any party.

"There is Your Honor, he has conveyed it like that," said Kasdi during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Wednesday, June 19.

"What are the facts you hear?" asked Judge Rianto confirmed.

"Yes, what I heard that I really remember is that if someone is on my behalf, asking for something, projects and so on, don't be served, that's what he said," said Kasdi.

Hearing this testimony, Judge Rianto confirmed that by asking questions about the prohibition from SYL was only a project or other things.

Kasdi said that SYL in his order prohibited all director-general from serving all forms of demand, even for his family.

"Proyek ya? khusus proyek?" asked Hakim Rianto.

"Macem-macem, the poko who asked on his behalf was what I arrested," said Kasdi.

"For? Don't be served or what?" asked Judge Rianto confirmed.

"Don't be served," said Kasdi.

"That's for entrepreneurs, of course, right?" said Judge Rianto, who was answered by Kasdi, "Who?"

"Including his family?" said Judge Rianto.

"Including his family," said Kasdi.

Then, the Judge questioned whether or not SYL had ever issued a special instruction regarding the prohibition. Kasdi agreed by saying the instructions were delivered to all echelons I at the Ministry of Agriculture.

"As far as I remember, as far as I remember," said Kasdi.

"written?" asked Judge Rianto, who was answered by Kasdi "It's written, as far as I remember, Your Majesty,"

"The point is, what I said earlier was that he didn't want anyone on behalf of him to be able to ask anyone for something from the ministry of agriculture. In principle, the issue contained in the circular is substantial, as far as I remember that circular," said Kasdi.