Mahfud MD First Announced SYL Suspect, Here's KPK's Response

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the announcement of suspects in corruption cases could not be carried out arbitrarily. However, they also cannot prohibit it when there are parties who do it first.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Johanis Tanak in response to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD who once mentioned former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo as a suspect. In fact, the anti-corruption commission at that time had not officially conveyed it to the public.

"Why did Mr. Mahfud announce it first, yes, we can't prohibit people from talking. Go ahead," Johanis said as quoted from the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Thursday, October 12.

Even so, Johanis said the official announcement would be made by the KPK to the public. However, they will not be arbitrary just based on speed without strong evidence.

"We interested parties certainly know better when the right moment to announce. So that there is no mistake in carrying out the tasks that are carried out to us in handling corruption," he said.

"Because if other people talk there are no consequences, if we talk, of course there will be legal consequences. So we must also be careful," continued Johanis.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD once admitted that he knew the determination of Syahrul as a suspect in the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture. This information has been pocketed for a long time.

"That he (Syahrul Yasin Limpo, ed) has been named a suspect, I have received information. If the exposure has been long, but officially (status, ed) the suspect has been held," said Mahfud MD at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 4.

Meanwhile, the KPK officially announced Syahrul and his two 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 gratification.

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.

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

This acceptance was then used by Yasin to meet his needs, such as paying for a credit card or buying a Toyota Alphard car. The money that the three allegedly enjoyed was around Rp. 13.9 billion.

The deepening will be carried out because the KPK also found Rp30 billion in cash while searching Syahrul's official residence and Rp400 million at Hatta's house.