KPK Suspects Budget Inflation Of Rubber Processing Facilities In The Ministry Of Agriculture

KPK (ANTARA) building

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that there has been an inflated budget for the purchase of rubber sap at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

This was conveyed by the Director of Investigation of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu when asked about a new investigation at the Ministry of Agriculture related to the procurement of rubber processing facilities. The alleged corruption occurred in 2021-2023.

"So we are currently also handling cases related to procurement, I forgot the name, but the acid used to thicken rubber.... If it used to be called ant acid, the name was there to thicken rubber," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, November 28.

"Well, this acid, the procurement of acid, so there are already goods, there is a fertilizer factory in West Java that produces acid. Well, this is needed in filling rubber," he continued.

However, during the purchase process, it turned out that the Ministry of Agriculture had inflated prices. "So the price that was sold was for example Rp. 10,000 per liter to Rp. 50,000 per liter," said Asep.

As for the suspect in this case, Asep has not explained. Because the investigation is still ongoing.

"Including the state's losses. We will inform you later," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK again investigated allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) by summoning three witnesses on Thursday, November 28. This time the case is related to the procurement of rubber processing facilities for the fiscal year 2021-2023.

The three witnesses were Arsad Nursalim who is a private employee; Reby Maharani as a civil servant (PNS) or JFPPBJ Madya General and Procurement 2019-2024; and Rosy Indra Saputra as the former Director of PT Sitas Kurama Perdana for the period May 2020-October 2024.

The anti-corruption commission initially investigated allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture which later ensnared former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL). He was prosecuted for alleged extortion and gratification within the Ministry of Agriculture.

In its development, the KPK has also named SYL as a suspect in the crime of money laundering (TPPU). Then, investigations into allegations of corruption in the procurement of static x-rays, mobile x-rays, and x-ray trailers or containers at the Agricultural Quarantine Agency are also being carried out.

A total of six people have been prevented from leaving the country, namely WH, IP, MB, SUD, CS and RF.

One of the six people is the former Secretary of the Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture Wisnu Haryana. This prevention was requested by the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights based on Decree Number 1064 of 2024 and valid for six months.

The KPK said that the state losses due to this procurement allegedly reached Rp82 billion. However, the exact number could change because the auditors are still calculating for sure.