SYL Uses Ministry of Agriculture Money to Buy Perfume, Jewelry, and Home Renovations
Ministry of Agriculture employees are forced to use the Ministry of Agriculture's budget to fulfill a number of SYL requests. What are the requests?
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The defendant, former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, arrived in the courtroom to attend the continuation of the case involving allegations of extortion and accepting gratuities in the Jakarta Corruption Court, on Monday (6/5/2024).
The trial of the alleged bribery and extortion case involving former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo continues to garner public attention. Almost every week, surprising information is revealed that is enough to make the public shake their heads in frustration and annoyance.
At a follow-up trial held at the Jakarta Corruption Criminal Court, Monday (6/5/2024), for example, it was revealed that Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL< /a>) uses money from the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture) for his personal needs. Before a panel of judges chaired by Rianto Adam Pontoh, four witnesses revealed the misappropriation of funds to finance SYL's personal needs.
Four witnesses presented by the public prosecutor of the Corruption Eradication Commission were the Head of Household Subdivision of the Ministry of Agriculture's Leader, Raden Kiky Mulya Putra, the Financial Administration Employee of the Sub-coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture's Household, Aris Andrianto, the former Maintenance Sub-Coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture's General Bureau and Procurement, Ignatius Agus Hendarto, and the Coordinator of Archives and Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture's General Bureau, Rezki Yudistira Saleh.
In the trial that was also attended by SYL, Raden Kiky revealed that SYL requested for brooches, gold rings, and flower arrangements to be bought as a wedding gift for their colleague in Jakarta and Makassar, South Sulawesi. Raden Kiky conveyed this information after being questioned by Judge Rianto regarding the wedding invitation that SYL attended.
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The defendant, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kasdi Subagyono (left), and former Director of Agriculture Machinery and Tools at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammad Hatta, arrived in the courtroom to attend the continuation of a case involving alleged extortion and acceptance of bribes at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (May 6, 2024).
Brooches and gold rings are not budgeted by the Ministry of Agriculture, while flower arrangements are budgeted by the Ministry of Agriculture. However, the budget for giving flower arrangements to colleagues who get married is limited to a maximum of IDR 500,000.
The gold brooch and ring are said to have been requested by SYL through his aide, Panji Harjanto, and Panji staff member, Rina. Raden Kiky admitted that he bought the gift that SYL ordered himself. “On average (jewelry purchased) is 10 to 15 grams. Around IDR 10 million to IDR 15 million. "The estimate is that much," said Raden Kiky.
Also read: Syahrul Yasin Limpo Allegedly Routinely Asks for Deposits from Ministry of Agriculture Officials
In a month, Raden Kiky is asked to buy jewelry for gifts two to three times. However, Raden Kiky does not remember how many times he bought the jewelry in a year.
In addition to buying jewelry, Raden Kiky was also asked to buy clothes for SYL and his daughter, Indira Chunda Thita Syahrul Putri. Raden Kiky even borrowed money from a Kementan contractor named Nasir to pay for it. At that time, Nasir had just been promised to get a project through a direct appointment mechanism in Kementan.
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The Chairman of the Judges' Assembly, Adam Rianto Pontoh (left), asked a witness presented by the public prosecutor in the continued hearing of the case of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Monday (6/5/2024).
It was also revealed that SYL asked Raden Kiky to buy perfume and shoes, as well as a jacket for Indira. Raden Kiky admitted that he was forced to buy those items because he was asked by his superior.
Another witness, Ignatius, revealed a different story. He admitted to being asked to renovate SYL's personal house when Judge Rianto asked about his duties and responsibilities at the Ministry of Agriculture. Ignatius told the judge that he was responsible for maintaining the buildings and structures of the Ministry of Agriculture, including the official residence.
However, Ignatius admitted to have used Kementan funds to renovate SYL's personal house on Jalan Limo, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, in 2022. Despite that, renovating a minister's personal house is not Kementan's responsibility.
In addition to buying jewelry, Raden Kiky was also asked to buy clothes for SYL and his daughter, Indira Chunda Thita Syahrul Putri. Raden Kiky even borrowed money from a Ministry of Agriculture contractor named Nasir to pay for it.
Ignatius forgot the costs spent on repairing SYL's personal home. What he remembers is reporting the renovation of SYL's personal home as official residence repairs in his accountability letter. With that trick, the Ministry of Agriculture's budget could be disbursed.
When questioned by the prosecutor, Ignatius admitted that the budget from the Ministry of Agriculture was used to improve parks, install CCTV cameras, renovate security officer quarters, and renovate rooms. In addition, the budget was used to pay for repairs to curtains as well as the procurement of air conditioning, smart TVs, and air purifiers.
Buying paintings
In the hearing, it was also revealed that SYL used the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture to buy a painting. Initially, Prosecutor Ikhsan Fernandi asked Raden Kiky about the truth of SYL's purchase of a painting by cultural figure Sujiwo Tejo on August 11, 2022.
Raden Kiky transferred Rp 200 million to Sujiwo Tejo to pay for a painting. The money came from a gift of Rp 130 million from Nasir, with the remaining Rp 70 million taken from the Ministry of Agriculture's funds.
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The defendant, former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, left the room during a break in the continuation of the trial of alleged extortion and gratuity acceptance at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (6/5/2024).
When asked where the painting was installed, Raden Kiky admitted that he had never seen the painting. He only received information that the painting was in the Nasdem Party office. However, he didn't know it clearly.
Ikhsan once again asked Raden Kiky to explain another large purchase. This is because the prosecutor obtained data on the history of dozens of other purchases. Raden Kiky then admitted to having bought a Dior branded bag worth Rp 105 million for Syahrul and his wife, Ayun Sri Harahap.
Prosecutor Meyer Simanjuntak then asked about borrowing money from the Ministry of Agriculture's affiliates. Meyer asked how Raden Kiky returned the money requested from the Ministry of Agriculture's affiliates, whether it was replaced with cash or a promise to obtain a project.
"Yes, usually we promise to replace the money with work (projects)," said Raden Kiky.
Usually, contractors who are asked for money will receive compensation in the form of small-scale work projects through direct appointment. However, Raden Kiky did not explain in detail the value of job projects given to contractors.
Birthdays and circumcisions
In a previous trial, it was also revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture's budget was used for the personal interests of SYL, among others, to fund celebration events for SYL's grandson's birthday and circumcision.
There are also funds used to pay for facial treatments and the renovation of SYL's child's home. In fact, for buying glasses, a car, and his wife's monthly allowance, SYL requested the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture also spends around IDR 3 million per month for operational costs of Syahrul's official residence in the Widya Chandra Complex. The ministry's funds are also used for maintenance of SYL's apartment in the Permata Hijau area of Jakarta. Furthermore, in order to pay a credit card bill of IDR 215 million, SYL took funds from the Ministry of Agriculture's budget.
SYL has been accused of extortion, cutting employee payments, and accepting gratuities up to Rp 44.5 billion from January 2020 to October 2023. These actions are allegedly carried out by SYL along with Kementan Secretary General Kasdi Subagyono and Kementan Agricultural Machinery Director Mohammad Hatta.
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The defendant, former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, asked the witness presented by the public prosecutor in the continuation of the case of alleged extortion and acceptance of gratuities at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (May 6, 2024).
After hearing testimonies from the witnesses, Judge Rianto allowed SYL to ask and respond to the testimony from the witnesses. The former Governor of South Sulawesi then asked the witnesses if they had ever heard him directly instructing to ask and do what was accused of him. The witnesses answered SYL's question by saying no.
SYL also asked the witnesses whether they had ever heard that the Ministry of Agriculture had received a number of awards, including from KPK, and that the Ministry of Agriculture had intervened in dealing with disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The witnesses answered that they had heard it.
Also read: Syahrul Yasin Limpo Threatens His Subordinates to Collect Money
After listening to the answers from the witnesses, SYL stated that he was ready to accept any punishment for this case.
The judge then said that the trial would continue on Wednesday (8/5/2024) with the agenda of hearing witness statements.
What other surprises will be revealed in next week's trial?
