In Addition To Extortion Of Employees, The KPK Reveals Investigating 3 Allegations Of Corruption At The Ministry Of Agriculture Of The SYL Era

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that there were a number of allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) that dragged Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said this condition made investigators not complete the alleged crime of money laundering (TPPU) of the former Minister of Agriculture under the era of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This is because SYL allegedly changed the acceptance he made and all of them were exposed when the extortion case of Ministry of Agriculture employees was investigated.

"So initially we were TPPU from the predicate crime of the initial case, there was extortion and buying and selling positions and others," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday night, November 24.

"But, then there are several cases at the Ministry of Agriculture that have emerged recently, but the case is during the Ministerial Period, Mr. SYL too. So, of course, we are waiting for this case to rise," he continued.

Asep then detailed a number of corruption cases in the Ministry of Agriculture during the SYL era, including the investigation into the procurement of X-Ray machines, rubber processing. Then, there is also a corruption case in the procurement of cattle which is still under investigation.

"This is our assumption, on SYL's brother. So, we have to charge him. That's why the money laundering offenses need additional time," he said.

As previously reported, the former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo is currently a suspect in alleged money laundering. This step was taken after the development of cases of extortion and acceptance of gratuities that had been convicted by the Jakarta Corruption Court.

A number of assets allegedly purchased by Syahrul from corruption have been confiscated by the KPK. Among them are a white Mitsubishi Sport Dakar hidden in an empty land in the Makassar area, South Sulawesi.

Recently, SYL has been sent to the Sukamiskin Penitentiary (Lapas), Bandung, West Java. He will serve a 12-year prison sentence for guilt in cases of extortion and acceptance of gratuities at the Ministry of Agriculture.

SYL was also sentenced to pay a fine of IDR 500 million, subsidiary to four months in prison plus compensation of IDR 44,269,777,204 and 30 thousand US dollars, subsidiary to five years in prison.