At The SYL Session: BPK Asks For IDR 12 Billion To Issue WTP, Ministry Of Agriculture Can Do IDR 5 Billion

Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) accompanied by his attorney, Djamaludin at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, March 13. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) is said to have asked IDR 12 billion to issue an Unqualified Predicate (WTP) for the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). However, it was only agreed to IDR 5 billion.

This was revealed based on the statement of the Secretary of the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Hermanto, who was a witness in the trial of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities with the defendants Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Kasdi Subagyono, and Muhammad Hatta.

It started when the public prosecutor (JPU) questioned the Ministry of Agriculture's follow-up to BPK's request of Rp12 billion to issue the WTP predicate.

"Finally, did all the requests for Rp12 billion or only some witnesses know?" asked the prosecutor during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, May 8.

Hermanto then stated that from the information he got, the BPK's request was not fully fulfilled. Because, only around Rp. 5 billion was paid.

"No, we don't fulfill it. I heard it wasn't fulfilled. I heard maybe it wasn't wrong about Rp. 5 billion or what. What I heard was," said Hermanto.

"Who did the witness hear from?" asked the prosecutor who Hermanto then answered "Pak Hatta,".

Nevertheless, Hermanto said he did not know about the process of giving the money. Because, the information about it was obtained after everything was finished.

"Only met Rp. 5 billion from the request of Rp. 12 billion. The witness heard it after being submitted or what about at the time of Pak Hatta's story to the witness?" asked the prosecutor.

"It's finished. I don't know when the handover process will come from," said Hermanto

The prosecutor then asked the source of the money used. Hermanto did not know in detail but was said to have come from a vendor.

"That's what the witness knew that Pak Hatta was the one who took care of the Rp5 billion? Where did Pak Hatta get the money from?" asked the prosecutor.

"Vendor," said Hermanto.

Previously, it was reported that the Ministry of Agriculture had problems getting the WTP title from the BPK. Because, from the audit process of the Ministry of Agriculture's food estate program, many problems were found.

"The concern is the food estate, which to my knowledge, yes, sir. Maybe there is, the big one is the food estate if I'm not mistaken and other findings. I don't know the others specifically," said Hermanto.

"For example, for example, the finding of a food estate is a finding that the term is not complete, yes, the administrative completeness. The term in the BPK is BDD, pay upfront. So, that's what we have to complete, and that is not yet TGR. This means that there is an opportunity for us to complete and complete the work," continued Hermanto.

Until finally, there was a request for money from the BPK worth Rp. 12 billion so that the WTP predicate would still be issued for the Ministry of Agriculture.