KPK Investigate Pupuk Procurement At The Ministry Of Agriculture Through The Chairman Of Bappilu Yogyakarta NasDem Party

DOK ANTARA

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the implementation of fertilizer procurement at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) when Syahrul Yasin Limpo was still serving as minister.

Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri said this allegation was investigated by the Director of PT Dwi Mitra, Tommy Nursamsu Mardisusanto who is also a legislative candidate as well as Chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Yogyakarta NasDem Party. The examination was held on Monday, January 8 yesterday.

"This witness was present and confirmed, among other things, related to his knowledge of the implementation of the fertilizer procurement project at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture when the suspect SYL served as Minister of Agriculture," Ali told reporters in a written statement, Tuesday, January 9.

Ali did not specify the process of procuring the fertilizer. However, Tommy's statement was needed to shed light on the case that ensnared Syahrul.

Previously reported, the KPK suspected that Syahrul had blackmailed his employees by requiring to pay monthly deposits with the help of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta. The nominal that is pegged and must be deposited by echelon I-II employees is around 4,000-10,000 US 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.

The KPK then suspected that the money Syahrul received was used for various personal interests. Starting from Umrah with other Ministry of Agriculture employees, buying cars, repairing houses to flowing to the NasDem Party with a value of up to billions of rupiah.