SYL At The Trial Of Extortion-Gratification Cases: I Don't Need To Be Defended

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) stated that there was no need to be defended in the trial of cases of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities.

He made this statement to the witnesses presented at the trial, namely, the Director of Settlement Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, Gunawan; Secretary of the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Hermanto; Head of Administration and Rumga of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lukman Irwanto; and the Expenditure Treasurer of the Directorate General of Agricultural Facilities and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Puguh Hari Prabowo.

"Bisjilairohmanirohim. Your Majesty, we love, Mr. Public Prosecutor (JPU), witnesses. On this occasion, Your Honor, I hope to answer it with my heart, because the question is also mild, don't defend me, I don't need to be defended. What you have to say," said SYL during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, May 8.

SYL also asked witnesses to tell the truth. Because, he is ready with all legal consequences in the judicial process.

"Because these are my former children, sir, the prosecutor's friends, I'm sorry. This means just answer honestly, I'm ready for everything," he said.

SYL asked three questions to all witnesses regarding official trips to Brazil, America. Then, problems such as el nino, rising meat prices, tofu and tempeh to fertilizer.

"First of all, the trip to Brazil, this is a very far, 34 hours. Do you know what it contains? My orders are the state, the President, and that's the result of a flat decision. There are no domestic problems that are no longer good, including tempeh prices, tofu again going up. I'm going up. Do you think that's my answer for a while, my brothers and sisters. Second, is there a problem with meat starting to rise because there is an el nino? So that the supply from Australia is reduced, sir? "Sorry, I'll just explain it because it caught fire there, we are asking about 280 million people, it's my responsibility, I was forced by the president to go on also through a flat. Forgive me sir," said SYL.

"Lastly, do you know that the fertilizer problem is also a problem around the world? And I have to deal with meetings with Russia and Ukraine there, sir, who have to leave Ukraine and be in what is his country called Venezuela, just to talk about fertilizer issues. Now is this an official trip or non-official trip like that? Meanwhile, our budget is down, sir, from Rp. 24 trillion to Rp. 14 trillion. I want to ask you, one, is there an order for me to collect money? Is there on behalf of it?" continued SYL.

Not only that, SYL also questioned whether or not the witness had ever heard his order to ask for money or pose a threat.

The witnesses stated that they had never heard of the order directly from SYL.

"Nothing, it's an order from the Secretary General," Hermanto replied.

"Ever I threatened people in all meetings, 'if you don't follow me, I'll fire you' Have you ever?" asked SYL.

"Directly from the Minister, I, Mr. SYL, don't," Hermanto replied.

"Mr. Gunawan, you're Echelon II. You must have faced me, have you ever heard of it?" asked SYL.

"Never," replied Gunawan.

"Have you ever felt I was forced or I was threatened?" asked SYL.

"No sir," replied Gunawan.

"Respondence to Allah," said SYL.

"No sir," replied Gunawan.

Furthermore, SYL stated that its official trips to Brazil to America used planes to take care of the problems faced by the Ministry of Agriculture. These problems include meetings of the minister of agriculture around the world to food problems.

"I'm sure this is going on because as long as we, sir, prices don't go up, rice doesn't go up, because this has something to do with what's there. So traveling by plane and so on is for the benefit of you. Lastly, sir, I'm sorry, I'm facing PMK and ANTraks and this is what the world is afraid of and we are safe sir. The trip to USA is the best practice of Indonesia in the world meeting between all agricultural ministers in the world to increase the food budget around the world. You know that?" asked SYL.

"No, I am sir," replied Hermanto.

"You?" asked SYL.

"You know," replied Gunawan.

"So that's it, sir, I'm sorry if it's a little bit. Those two things are parts that I consider important to, everyone must also know that this is for our benefit, 280 million people. Thank you sir, I will answer in writing later during defense," said SYL.