Corruption Rp 12.9 Billion, Former Director General Of Horticulture Of The Ministry Of Agriculture Hasanuddin Was Sentenced To 5.5 Years In Prison

The corruption defendant Hasanuddin Ibrahim (central) gave an explanation during a follow-up hearing at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday (9/11/2022). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Tipikor Court sentenced the Director General of Horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture in 2010-2015 Hasanuddin Ibrahim to 5.5 years in prison for committing corruption in the procurement of pesticides which caused losses to state finances amounting to IDR 12.9 billion.

"On trial, declared the defendant Hasanuddin Ibrahim legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing the crime of participating in the crime of corruption as charged in the first alternative indictment," chairman of the panel of judges Ignatius Eko Purwanto at the Corruption Court (Tipikor), quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 18.

Sentenced against the defendant, therefore, with imprisonment for 5 years and 6 months and a fine of IDR 300 million with the stipulation that if the fine is not paid, it must be replaced with imprisonment for 6 months.

The verdict is the same as the demands of the KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) based on the first indictment of Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st Criminal Code.

In his actions, Hasanuddin committed corruption in the procurement of facilitation of cultivation facilities to support the control of Plant Pest Organisms (OPT) in the context of spending on other physical goods to be submitted to the community or local government at the Directorate General of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2013 Fiscal Year in the form of procurement of pesticides Mycorrhiza based for potato plants.

In October 2012, Hasanuddin Ibrahim requested that "mycorrhiza" be procured for potato plants. Hasanuddin asked Eko Mardianto as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) to coordinate with the President Director of PT Hidayah Nur Wahana (HNW) Sutrisno and Hasanuddin's younger brother named Nasser Ibrahim.

Sutrisno is known as a director of PT HNW which is engaged in the sale and purchase of fertilizer under the trademark Rhizagold from Biotrack Technology (M) Sdn Bhd Malaysia with Rhizagold being a fertilizer for oil palm plants.

However, the procurement was not carried out so it was included back in the proposed 2013 budget year of 225 thousand kilograms worth IDR 18.615 billion which was finally approved as part of the 2013 FY budget.

In fact, in January 2013, Hasanuddin added stock availability by 40 percent of the quantity needed to accommodate the Rhizagold stock previously owned by Sutrisno in FY 2012.

The auction has also been arranged to be won by a company used by Sutrisno, namely PT Karya Muda Jaya with a contract value of IDR 18.309 billion.

The list of potato farmers as potential beneficiaries of assistance has not yet been made for this activity, so it is during the implementation period that prospective beneficiary farmers are sought and determined points for the distribution of goods.

PT KMJ then received payment on April 2 2013 of IDR 3.278 billion which is an advance payment of 20 percent and up to 62 calendar days, PT KMJ has not completed 100 percent of the work but on June 19 2013 PT KMJ received a payment of IDR 13.115 billion.

Of the total budget of IDR 18.309 billion, which Sutrisno used to complete the work including the purchase of fertilizer to Biotrack Technology (M) Sdn Bhd Malaysia and distribution to beneficiary farmers were only IDR3.477 billion.

Hasanuddin's actions also enriched several parties, namely Eko Mardiyanto as PPK at the Work Unit of the Directorate General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture for IDR 1.05 billion, Sutrisno as the Main Director of PT Hidayah Nur Wahana for IDR 7.302 billion Nasser Ibrahim as the younger brother of the accused Hasanuddin Ibrahim for IDR 725 million.

In addition, it enriched the owner of PT KMJ Subhan for IDR 195 million, enriched CV Ridho Putra for IDR 1.7 billion, PT HNW for IDR 2 billion, and enriched CV Danaman Surya Lestari for IDR 500 million and caused losses to the state finances or the state economy totaling IDR 12.947 billion.