Former Minister Of Agriculture SYL Will Be Cooperative: I Will Come To The KPK Soon

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/ANTARA HO

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo confirmed that he would cooperate in undergoing the legal process for alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture which was investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He has returned from Makassar, South Sulawesi to Jakarta.

"I will immediately return to Jakarta and will undergo a legal obligation to come to the KPK," said Syahrul in a written statement, Wednesday, October 11.

"After I met and kissed my mother's hand earlier, I really felt more confident that I would be able to get through all of this as well as possible," he continued.

Meanwhile, Febri Diansyah, Syahrul's lawyer, ensured that he appreciated the legal process. "He remains committed," said the former KPK spokesman.

Febri asked all parties to respect the legal process. "Pak Syahrul also hopes that there will be sufficient space to defend this legal process," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK suspected that Syahrul set different rates for employees who were required to deposit monthly money. This practice he did while serving as Minister of Agriculture.

The levy was quoted by Syahrul through two of his subordinates, the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta. The benchmarks required to be deposited are around 4,000-10,000 US dollars.

Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Johanis Tanak uang was collected by Kasdi and Hatta through cash transfer, bank transfer, or delivery of goods. The sources of money used include the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget which has been marked up.

"Including requests for money from vendors who get projects at the ministry. The receipt of money through KS and MH as representatives and confidants of SYL is carried out regularly every month using foreign currency denominations," Johanis said at a press conference at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

The money was then used for Syahrul's personal interests. Among them are paying credit card installments to buy a Toyota Alphard car.

"So far, the money enjoyed by SYL together with KS and MH is around Rp. 13.9 billion and a more in-depth investigation is still being carried out by the investigative team," Johanis explained.

Currently, Kasdi has been detained at the KPK detention center. Meanwhile, Syahrul and Hatta did not meet the investigators because they had family needs and asked for a reschedule.