KPK Claims To Force Ex-Minister Of Agriculture SYL Tonight: Waiting But Not Appearing

Head of KPK News Section Ali Fikri (Photo: Wardhany T/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) claims to have forcibly picked up former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo because he did not appear today, Thursday, October 12. In fact, the NasDem Party politician has stated that he will commit to fulfilling the summons. "I think according to his commitment yesterday we conveyed that he would cooperate, he should come today to the KPK to meet the KPK investigating team," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday night. Even so, Ali confirmed the summons for Syahrul on Friday, October 13. "But this is still in yesterday's series (he was not present, ed)," he said. Thus, the KPK decided to conduct an analysis after there was news that Syahrul had arrived in Jakarta. From there, it was decided to forcefully pick up the NasDem Party politician. " “ once again there is a legal reason how the analysis of the KPK investigating team was carried out for the next arrest of the suspect in question,” said Ali. As previously reported, Syahrul was forcibly picked up in the Kebayoran area, South Jakarta on Thursday night. He immediately underwent an examination at the KPK's Red and White House. Previously, Syahrul Yasin Limpo's lawyer, Febri Diansyah, questioned the basis for his client's forced pick-up. He said Syahrul had actually received a summons for questioning on Friday, October 13. “Pak Syahrul has already received the summons earlier for the inspection schedule tomorrow Friday. He said he would cooperate and confirmed that he would come to the examination tomorrow,” Febri said in a written statement received by VOI, Thursday, October 12. VOI received the summons in question. In it, Syahrul as a suspect in the alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture is scheduled to be examined tomorrow and signed by Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur. The KPK has announced Syahrul and two of his subordinates, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta as suspects on Wednesday, October 11. All three were involved in alleged extortion and gratuities. In this case, Syahrul through his two subordinates was suspected of extorting his employees by requiring to pay the deposit every month. The nominal varies between 4,000-10,000 United States dollars.

It is believed that the money collected does not only come from the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget inflated or mark-ups but from vendors working on projects. The money is given in cash, transfers or goods.