Minister Of Agriculture Amran Removed Echelon II Employees Again For Receiving Project Fees Of IDR 700 Million

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman again removed an echelon II official or a director's class within the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) because he was found to have received a bribe or project fee of Rp700 million.

Minister Amran said the follow-up to the removal was carried out because he received reports related to acts of corruption or bribery in the institution he leads.

"What was confirmed was that what was conveyed in the report directly to me was the bribe value of Rp. 700 million, which was recognized at Rp. 500 million," he said when met in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, October 28.

The Minister of Agriculture said that the perpetrator was being investigated by the Inspectorate General (Itjen) of the Ministry of Agriculture to find out indications of the role of other parties. He said that for the time being his party had also investigated three other people who were subordinates of the perpetrators.

"We ask the Inspector General to work professionally," he said

According to the Minister of Agriculture, he took this firm action as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's direction in conveying three special messages to him, namely preventing corruption, budget efficiency, and achieving food self-sufficiency within 3-4 years.

Earlier on Thursday, Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman removed the positions of three employees in echelon II and III positions because he asked for commissions of up to IDR 10 billion from projects that entered the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

Amran said the three individuals asked for a 25 percent commission from employers if the project offered was successful in the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Today we removed the person concerned. It is inactive, it could be dismissal," said Amran.

Amran said this issue had been submitted to the authorities. He said the three people had repeatedly misappropriated the Ministry of Agriculture.

Furthermore, Amran emphasized that he would never compromise with employees who committed corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture. He also admitted that he always brought letters in the format of dismissal or dismissal and suspension can be given directly if a similar violation occurs.