Cerita Mantan Anak Buah, SYL Larang Keluarga Main Proyek

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo or SYL is said to strictly prohibit his family from 'playing projects' or taking advantage of positions for his own interests.

This statement was made by Abdul Malik Faisal, a former SYL subordinate when he served as Regent of Gowa to the Governor of South Sulawesi, when he was presented as a witness to lighten or a de charge in the case of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities, today.

It started when Malik conveyed about SYL's character when he became a state official. According to him, the former Gowa Regent was rarely in the office.

"Mr. Syahrul, if I see working 80 percent in the field, only 20 percent in the office, all sub-districts are visited," Malik said during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, June 10.

In addition, SYL is also said to have never talked about money or projects in government.

Even when he served as Regent of Gowa, SYL's older brother who at that time was a member of the DPR was said to have been angry because he was prohibited from getting projects.

"Until his own brother, who at that time was a member of the DPR, said 'why I was prohibited from getting a project in Gowa. Now I am also a businessman even though I am a member of the DPR', brother himself was angry at that time," said Malik.

On that basis, Malik thought his former boss was a clean official.

"At that time, I immediately thought that Mr. Syahrul was not playing the project, he was not the one who was the most angry when the project problem arrived in the province," said Malik.

In this case, SYL was charged with extortion of up to Rp44.5 billion during 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 used for the benefit of Syahrul's wife and family, invited gifts, the NasDem Party, religious events, aircraft charters to Umrah and sacrifices. In addition, he was also charged with receiving gratuities of Rp40.6 billion from January 2020 to October 2023.