Former Adjutant Reveals SYL Had Sent Chats To Firli Bahuri When The KPK Ransacked The Office House

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri (Photo: Nailin/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) is said to have sent a Whatsapp message to Firli Bahuri, who at that time served as Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The communication was carried out after SYL received information that his official house was searched. The communication between SYL and Firli Bahuri was revealed by Panji Hartanto, a former SYL aide in the trial of alleged extortion and extortion at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, April 17. "When he found out about the search, did you remember the witness, was there any communication between the defendant and the chairman of the KPK? Was it via direct cellphone?" asked Chief Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh. "Mr. WA to Mr. Firli Bahuri, Chairman of the KPK," replied Panji Hearing this statement, Judge Rianto studied by questioning the contents of the conversation between SYL and Firli. However, Panji admitted that he did not know about it. Because, after Firli replied to the message, SYL immediately deleted it. "What's the point?" asked Judge Rianto. "WhatsApp was immediately deleted at that time, then you asked, 'Is this Mr. Firli's number?'. I checked with his aide, right," replied Panji. "You saw that there was a WA from SYL to the KPK chairman, was it accepted and replied or what?" asked Judge Rianto. "Reprimanded, only immediately deleted by Mr. Firli," replied Panji. Panji also said that he did not have time to read the contents of the WhatsApp message. Only at that time, he said the WhatsApp number was Firli's number which he had checked from Firli's aide. "What's in it?" asked Judge Rianto. "I didn't have time to read," replied Panji. "But the number is written in the number of Brother Firli Bahuri or number?" said Judge Rianto. " Firli's number," said Panji. Syahrul Yasin Limpo was charged with extortion of up to Rp44.5 billion in the 2020-2023 period. This action was carried out together with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Directorate General of Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta. This money was then used for the benefit of Syahrul's wife and family, invited gifts, the NasDem Party, religious events, aircraft charters to Umrah and sacrifices. Then, he was also charged with receiving gratuities of Rp40.6 M from January 2020 to October 2023.

In addition, he was again named a suspect in the crime of money laundering (TPPU). This effort was made after investigators developed allegations of corruption that was being tried.