Securing Cattle Procurement Case, SYL Hands Over 1.3 Billion To Firli Bahuri

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) admitted that he had twice handed over money to the former Chairman of the KPK, Firli Bahuri. The amount reached Rp1.3 billion.

This confession began when the judge questioned the existence of a meeting with Firli which had become a public spotlight.

SYL did not deny the meeting. SYL explained that Firli asked him to come to the badminton Sports Center in the Central Jakarta area.

"Pak Firli only invited me to come to the Sports Hall, to watch or participate in badminton. That's the first thing I understand," said SYL during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, June 24.

Hearing this testimony, the judge questioned SYL about a meeting with Firli Bahuri apart from the badminton goal.

SYL agreed and said that Firli Bahuri invited him to continue the conversation at his home.

"That's right, then he said, later he would talk more about it at my house. He hasn't said it in Kertanegara yet," said SYL.

"Yes, what are you talking about with Firli Bahuri? Does it have anything to do with the KPK investigation at the agriculture ministry?" asked Hakim.

"In general, there is no such submission," SYL replied.

The judge continued to question SYL with several questions. Until finally alluding to the issue of handing over the money.

SYL also admitted that he had twice handed over money to the former KPK chairman.

"And there was a handover of suadara's money earlier, yes. How many times did he hand over?" asked the judge.

"The one from me twice," said SYL.

"Initially 500 is the same as 800, right?" asked the judge confirmed.

"Yes, more or less like that," said SYL.

Previously, the former Secretary General (Secretary General) of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Kasdi Subagyono, also agreed to a fundraising of Rp800 million to be handed over to the former Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK, Firli Bahuri.

The money was intended to indicate a case for the procurement of cattle, which at that time was investigated by the KPK.

"Please allow Your Honor, at that time the Minister himself had told all echelon I ranks that there were problems related to the procurement of cattle in the Ministry of Agriculture that were problematic which were being investigated by the KPK. Then the Minister said that this should be anticipated, then, the meaning of anticipating that is, then there is sharing again," explained Kasdi.

Then, Kasdi said that the Rp800 million was collected through sharing or a joint venture by echelon I at the Ministry of Agriculture. The defendant Muhammad Hatta also asked for the money collection.

"What is this special sharing? Sharing for ministerial operations, what is this sharing for?" asked the judge.

"So, after being conveyed at that time, Mr. Hatta clarified again that there was a need of Rp. 800 million which would be handed over to Mr. Firli," said Kasdi.