KPK Council Cancels Inspection Of Alex Tirta Regarding Alleged Ethical Violations Firli Bahuri Meets SYL

KPK Supervisory Board member Syamsuddin Haris in a press conference at the ACLC KPK Building, Jakarta, Monday (19/6/2023). (ANTARA/Putu Indah Savitri)

JAKARTA - The Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still investigating alleged ethical violations of the inactive KPK chairman Firli Bahuri. They are still asking for information, including from the night entertainment entrepreneur, Alex Tirta but he was not present. KPK Council member Syamsuddin Haris said Alex should have been summoned today, Monday, November 27. However, he was unable to ask for information regarding the alleged meeting between Firli and former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo. "This morning (Alex Tirta was asked for information from the KPK Council, ed) but he asked for a reschedule because it was still outside us," Syamsuddin told reporters in a written statement, Monday, November 27. Haris said that Alex would indeed be summoned again because his statement was needed by the KPK Council. However, he did not specify the exact time. "(The next summons, ed) don't know yet," he said. As a reminder, Alex Tirta was dragged into the alleged meeting between Firli and Syahrul because he was suspected of renting a house on Jalan Kertanegara Number 46, Jakarta. Later, this house was searched by the Polda Metro Jaya which investigated allegations of extortion or receiving gratuities. The police then revealed Firli's rented house from Alex for Rp600 million. There, it is suspected that there was a meeting between Firli and Syahrul which led to an alleged extortion. As previously reported, Firli and Syahrul allegedly met amid the investigation into alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture after the photos of the two circulated. Later, the Legal Care Student Committee complained to the KPK Supervisory Board. As for this case, Syahrul has been detained in connection with allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). He extorted his employees by requiring to pay deposits every month with the help of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono and the Director of Agricultural Equipment of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta. The nominal set by Syahrul and must be deposited by echelon I-II employees in the range of 4,000-10,000 US 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.

The KPK then suspected that the money Syahrul received was used for various personal interests. Starting from Umrah with other Ministry of Agriculture employees, buying cars, repairing houses to flowing to the NasDem Party with a value of up to billions of rupiah.