Absent From Early February, Firli Bahuri Will Be Questioned Again By Polda Metro

Direskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Ade Safri Simanjuntak/DOK PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission or the KPK, Firli Bahuri, will be questioned again as a suspect in the alleged extortion and gratification case against the former Minister of Agriculture or Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo. The examination was carried out to complete the case file.

"The schedule for the examination or request for additional information on the suspect FB will be carried out on Monday, February 26," said Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Ade Safri Simanjuntak in his statement, Friday, February 23.

The plan is for the examination of Firli Bahuri to be carried out at Bareskrin Polri at 10.00 WIB.

The summons for examination, said Ade, is the second time that investigators have scheduled. This is because the chairman of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period was absent from the examination which was scheduled for February 6.

"That's right (Firli Bahuri was absent) that was the first call from the suspect," said Ade.

Polda Metro Jaya targets the completion of the case file for the alleged extortion and gratification case with the suspect Firli Bahuri to be completed this week.

The process of completing the files began after being returned by the DKI Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office on February 2.

"God willing, we will immediately transfer it back to the prosecutor. Later we will update the progress. God willing, it will be targeted this week," said Ade.

In an effort to complete case files, investigators examined a number of witnesses. Some of them are former Minister of Agriculture or Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta; and Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono.

The three were questioned at the Polda Metro Jaya on February 13. They again explained about Firli Bahuri's alleged corruption.

Polda Metro Jaya investigators first handed over Firli Bahuri's case file on December 15. However, from the examination process, the prosecutor assessed that there were still shortcomings and returned them on December 28.

Following up on this, investigators began to complete it. After being deemed sufficient, the case file was again transferred to the DKI Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office on January 24.

However, the case file for the suspect Firli Bahuri was returned on Friday, February 2. The research prosecutor assessed that there were still shortcomings, both formal and material, in accordance with Article 110 and Article 138 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Firli Bahuri was named a suspect based on the results of the case title conducted on Wednesday, November 22.

Several pieces of evidence that became the basis for determining the suspect, namely, foreign exchange documents worth Rp7.4 billion. There are also the results of the extraction of 21 cellphones.

However, Firli Bahuri has not yet been detained. Although, he is already a suspect.

In this case, Firli Bahuri was charged with Article 12 e or Article 12 B or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 65 of the Criminal Code.