Fear Of Running Away Is The Reason For The KPK To Force SYL To Pick Up Tonight Even Though He Will Be Called Tomorrow

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/PHOTO via Instagram @syasinlimpo

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo was forcibly picked up tonight, Thursday, October 12 because he was feared to be uncooperative. It is certain that this effort is in accordance with applicable legal regulations. "When making arrests of suspects, there are reasons in accordance with criminal procedural law, for example, concerns of escaping, then there are concerns about eliminating evidence that is the basis for the KPK investigating team to arrest and bring him to the KPK's red and white building," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday. Even so, Ali agreed that Syahrul's second summons was actually on Friday, October 13. "“Yes, that's right," he said. "But this is still in yesterday's series (when Syahrul did not fulfill the first call, ed)," said Ali. As previously reported, Syahrul was forcibly picked up in the Kebayoran area, South Jakarta on Thursday night. He immediately underwent an examination at the KPK's Red and White House. Meanwhile, Syahrul Yasin Limpo's lawyer, Febri Diansyah, questioned the basis for his client's forced pick-up. He said Syahrul had actually received a summons for questioning on Friday, October 13. “Pak Syahrul has already received the summons earlier for the inspection schedule tomorrow Friday. He said he would cooperate and confirmed that he would come to the examination tomorrow,” Febri said in a written statement received by VOI, Thursday, October 12. VOI received the summons in question. In it, Syahrul as a suspect in the alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture is scheduled to be examined tomorrow and signed by Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur. The KPK has announced Syahrul and two of his subordinates, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta as suspects on Wednesday, October 11. All three were involved in alleged extortion and gratuities. In this case, Syahrul through his two subordinates was suspected of extorting his employees by requiring to pay the deposit every month. The nominal varies between 4,000-10,000 United States dollars.

It is believed that the money collected does not only come from the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget inflated or mark-ups but from vendors working on projects. The money is given in cash, transfers or goods.