Mahfud MD Prioritizes KPK Calls Syahrul Yasin Limpo Suspect, Firli Bahuri Laughs

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri laughed (medium) during a press conference at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 5. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri laughed when asked about Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD who first announced the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo as a suspect in alleged corruption.

The moment occurred after a press conference on the determination of the suspect, Mayor of Bima Muhammad Lutfi. At that time, Firli, who was about to leave the press conference room, was asked about the announcement made by Mahfud if Syahrul was already a suspect even though his institution had not yet conveyed it to the public.

"Hehehe," Firli laughed at the announcement made by Mahfud.

Firli did not clearly answer the statement. Normatively, he only said that the legal process for the Ministry of Agriculture's corruption case had been running according to existing regulations.

"All law enforcement processes go through a process in accordance with the provisions of criminal law. Collecting evidence, examining witness witnesses, thus making a criminal event clear. There are only suspects," said Firli to reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 6.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD claimed to know the determination of the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) as a suspect in the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture. This information has been pocketed for a long time.

"That he (Syahrul Yasin Limpo, ed) has been named a suspect, I have received information. If the exposure has been long, but officially (status, ed) the suspect has been held," said Mahfud MD at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 4.

The anti-corruption commission in the Firli Bahuri era announced the determination of suspects along with efforts to detain them. They also display the prisoners.

Previously reported, the KPK has raised the status of the investigation into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture to investigate. There are already suspects who have been named but no details have been given.

However, information circulated that the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono, and Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta were dragged into this case.

In investigating this case, the anti-corruption commission has conducted a search. At the official residence of Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, investigators found Rp30 billion in cash consisting of rupiah denominations and foreign currencies and firearms.

Then, the search was continued at the Ministry of Agriculture's Office. As a result, documents related to the corruption case were found.

Most recently, investigators also visited Hatta's house in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta. From the forced effort, Rp400 million was found.

Next, investigators confiscated a sedan with the Audi A6 brand from Syahrul's house in Makassar. Documents related to this case were also found during a search activity conducted on Wednesday, October 4.

The findings obtained from the search are now being analyzed and confiscation will be carried out. Meanwhile, the findings of firearms were handed over to the police for follow-up.