SYL Requires Employees To Deposit US$4-10 Thousand When They Become Minister Of Agriculture

Deputy Chairperson Of The KPK Johanis Tanak at a press conference related to the Syahrul Yasin Limpo / PHOTO case: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that Syahrul Yasin Limpo blackmailed his employees through the policy he made when he was Minister of Agriculture (Mentan). The money collected was then used for personal needs and his family.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Johanis Tanak when announcing Syahrul as a suspect today, Wednesday, October 11.

"SYL then made a personal policy regarding the existence of levies and deposits, including from the Ministry of Agriculture's internal ASN to meet personal needs including its immediate family," Johanis said at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

The money, continued Johanis, was collected by Kasdi Subagyono who is the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Muhammad Hatta as Director of Tools and Machines of the Ministry of Agriculture. Officials who are required to deposit are those from echelon I and echelon II units.

"Submission (in the form, red) cash, bank account transfer, to gifts in the form of goods and services," he said.

The KPK suspects that the money deposited into Syahrul comes from the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget which is then marked up. "Including the demand for money for vendors who get projects at the Ministry of Agriculture," said Johanis.

The money collected by Kasdi and Hatta varies from 4,000 to 10,000 US dollars. This value is different from each scope of office and must be deposited regularly every month.

Next, the money was used for Syahrul's personal interests. Among them are paying credit card installments to buy a Toyota Alphard car.

"So far, the money enjoyed by SYL together with KS and MH is around Rp. 13.9 billion and a more in-depth investigation is still being carried out by the investigative team," Johanis explained.

Currently, the KPK has only detained Kasdi for 20 days until October 30. Meanwhile, Syahrul and Hatta were not present because they still had family needs and asked for a reschedule.

As a result of his actions, these three suspects are suspected of violating Article 12 letters e and 12B of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code.