Crown Witness Disbursed SYL's Anger When The Former Secretary General Did Not Prepare Disaster Money

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo is said to have scolded the former Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) Momon Rusmono for not preparing donations for natural disasters during a visit.

The SYL anger was conveyed by Kasdi Subagyono, to replace Momon Rusmono as Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, when he was a witness to the crown for SYL and former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery (Alsintan), Muhammad Hatta at the trial of the alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities.

It started when Chief Judge Rianto Adam Pontoh asked about the Ministry of Agriculture's budget for flood victims in Pandeglang, Banten, West Java in January 2020.

Kasdi explained that at that time Momon did not prepare Rp50 million. This immediately sparked SYL's anger.

"At that time, as far as I knew, when I arrived at the location, the Secretary General was asked by the Minister, of course at that time through the Prof. Imam, special staff," Kasdi said during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Wednesday, June 19.

"Then?," asked Judge Rianto.

"Asked that it was not prepared by Secretary General Momon Rusmono," said Kasdi.

"Asked by SYL, does the funds mean donations or aid funds for the victims?" asked Judge Rianto confirmed.

"It turns out that it has not been prepared," replied Kasdi.

"Before the trip, the secretary general had stated that he was ready with the funds?" asked Rianto.

"Yes," said Kasdi.

Kasdi said that he did not know why Momon did not prepare disaster donations, which had been budgeted by the Ministry of Agriculture's General Bureau. But, for sure, SYL is very angry about this.

"Was it the negligence of the secretary general at that time that did not prepare it even though it had been budgeted or was there no budget at that time?" asked Judge Rianto.

"I don't know exactly but at that time there was no time to hand it over," said Kasdi.

SYL's anger caused Momon to no longer ride the same car after the working visit was completed.

"Then, you said earlier that one car. Is it the same car or what?" asked the judge.

"As far as I remember, there is no other car, Your Honor," said Kasdi.

Kasdi said that after the SYL angry incident, Momon Rusmono immediately said that he was no longer allowed to accompany SYL on a working visit. In fact, his position at that time was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture.

"After the next day you were summoned by Mr. SYL? Enter his room and then what is conveyed to you?" asked Judge Rianto.

"At that time, actually before I had information from the aide from the banner. The servant conveyed it to convey it to the rusmono MOON," said Kasdi.

"What, in the form of what?" asked Judge Rianto confirmed.

"If I'm not mistaken at that time, it was conveyed by the secretary general that there was no need to accompany the minister anymore, that's what I remember, Your Honor," replied Kasdi.

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.