Former Staff Of SYL Calls Hermawi Taslim Knows About The Flow Of Ministry Of Agriculture Funds For NasDem Candidates

Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) while waiting for the witness examination trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Wednesday (22/05/2024). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

The Secretary General (Sekjen) of the NasDem Party, Hermawi Taslim, is said to know the flow of funds from the Ministry of Agriculture worth Rp. 850 million which is intended to finance the way for the NasDem Party's legislative candidate (bacaleg).

This was conveyed by former Special Staff (Stafsus) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL), Joice Triatman, who was presented as a witness in the trial of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities for the defendants Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL, Kasdi Subagyono, and Muhammad Hatta, on Monday, May 27.

It started when Joice conveyed about an order from SYL to coordinate with Kasdi Subagyono regarding the procurement of money.

"I received an order from the Minister to coordinate with the Secretary General of Mr. Kasdi for the funding case for an event in the NasDem Party in order to hand over the DPR RI Babileg form to the KPU Building," said Joice during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court.

"Where's the event?" asked the judge.

"At the NasDem Party building last year, Your Majesty, in 2023," answered Joice.

"Pencalegan? Already want to be close to the election?" asked the judge.

"That's right, Your Majesty," replied Joice.

Then, Joice conveyed the budget prepared by the committee of the event worth Rp. 1 billion. However, the former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kasdi Subagyono, is said to have refused.

Therefore, it was agreed that the amount of money that would be handed over by the Ministry of Agriculture would be IDR 850 million.

"Kasdi objected then what?" asked the judge.

"Until it was agreed Rp850 million," answered Joice.

"Can you talk?" asked the judge.

"No, just once," replied Joye.

"Finally, from Rp. 1 billion it dropped to?" asked the judge.

"Rp850 million," replied Joye.

Joice said the Rp850 million was disbursed after two weeks since the RAB was approved. However, it is said that they do not know the source of the money from the Ministry of Agriculture related to the funding.

"After being approved, the money was immediately handed over?" asked the judge.

"There is a process, Your Honor. The direction of Mr. Kasdi at that time was to ask Sespri and me to coordinate with Sespri until they waited for the funds to be disbursed," said Joice.

"How many days did the judge collect?" asked the judge.

"I don't remember for sure about two weeks since the RAB was approved," answered Joice.

"Do you know where the source of the Rp850 million came from?" asked the judge.

"I don't know, what is clear is from the Ministry of Agriculture," answered Joice.

Joice emphasized that the NasDem management also knew that the Rp850 million came from the Ministry of Agriculture. One of those who knew about the Secretary General of NasDem Hermawi Taslim knew about this.

"Suadara informed the General Treasurer that this is assistance from the Minister for this activity?" asked the judge.

"No, Your Majesty," answered Joice.

"Do the Nasdem Party officials know about this money?" asked the judge.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I know," answered Joice.

"Who? Treasurer?" asked the judge.

"Beharata doesn't know," asked the judge.

"Earlier you said who the management is?" asked the judge.

"So it was Mr. Secretary General who knew at that time, Mr. Hermawi Taslim knew," said Joice.

"Is that from the Ministry's money?" asked the judge.

"Yes," answered Joice.

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.