SYL's Claim About Kunker Using Ministry Of Agriculture Money: For People's Interests, The Economy Is Threatened

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/DOK PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL claimed that the work visit (kunker) abroad was only carried out for the benefit of the Indonesian state.

The statement was made in order to refute the charges regarding the activities of the Working Group which he did only for personal interests.

"That of all that was conveyed, this is related to matters with agriculture, Indonesian eating affairs, where to discuss food all aspects in the life of this nation," said SYL when responding to witness statements at the trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Monday, May 27.

In addition, he conveyed that the account he did was in accordance with the decision of the cabinet meeting held by the Government.

Moreover, the account was carried out because Indonesia needed a lot of food reserves to meet the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"That therefore, indeed what is being done, especially for the service pedestrian, is indeed agreed in the cabinet by all ministers to conduct discretion. If this is indeed for the benefit of the people," he said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SYL stated that Indonesia was in a slump. Thus, various policies to restore the situation of Indonesia which was hit by the pandemic.

"That's what I want to explain, Your Honor, that actually this is because there is an atmosphere and condition in Indonesia that is not what we feel today, sir," said SYL.

"It's a tense atmosphere, the economy is threatened and (in) 3 years of growth only the Ministry of Agriculture, 18.2 percent, the other is your mines," he continued.

SYL was charged with extortion and received gratuities totaling Rp44.5 billion in cases of alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture in the period 2020 to 2023.

The extortion was carried out with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture for the 2021 period, Kasdi Subagyono, and the Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023 Muhammad Hatta, who was also a defendant.

The two of them are coordinators of collecting money from echelon I officials and their staff, including to pay SYL's personal needs.