Directorate General at Ministry of Agriculture Charged to Pay for Travel to Sacrificial Cow Syahrul Yasin Limpo

Witnesses from the Directorate General of PSP, Ministry of Agriculture, revealed that there were bills for Syahrul Yasin Limpo's travel expenses and needs.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo attended a hearing with a witness examination agenda at the Corruption Criminal Court in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - During the witness examination session which presented officials from the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, it was revealed that there were several bills for Syahrul Yasin Limpo's travel expenses at home and abroad as well as other needs. Travel costs billed include travel to Brazil and the United States, Umrah, as well as bills for cow sacrifices.

It was revealed in the ongoing hearing of witness examination in the case of alleged corruption, extortion, payment cuts, and gratuities with defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the Jakarta Corruption Crimes Court on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024. The hearing was led by Chairman of the Panel of Judges, Rianto Adam Pontoh.

In the case, Syahrul Yasin Limpo has been charged with extortion, cutting employee payments, and receiving gratifications worth Rp 44.5 billion. These actions are alleged to have been carried out by Syahrul from January 2020 to October 2023 together with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Kasdi Subagyono, and former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery, Muhammad Hatta.

During the trial, witness Hermanto, as the Secretary of the Directorate General of Agriculture Infrastructure and Facilities (Ditjen PSP) at the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as witness Puguh Hari Prabowo, as the Treasurer of Expenditures of Ditjen PSP at the Ministry of Agriculture stated that there were several bills sent to Ditjen PSP. The bills were also charged to each directorate general. However, Hermanto claimed not to know whether the amount of bills sent to Ditjen PSP was the same or different from those sent to other directorate generals.

Also read: Continue Trial of Alleged Corruption of Syahrul Yasin Limpo

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

The witnesses presented in the trial of alleged corruption involving defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

According to Hermanto and Puguh's statements, the bills charged to the Directorate General of PSP include a bill of IDR 1.5 billion for the lease of an aircraft in 2020 and IDR 600 million for Syahrul's needs during his trip to Brazil in May 2022.

The next bill is for Rp 200 million for travel expenses to the United States in October 2022, as well as a bill for travel expenses to Aceh and Makassar totaling Rp 300 million in December 2022.

Also read: Syahrul Yasin Limpo's Shopping List Allegedly Used the Ministry of Agriculture's Budget

Hermanto said that they were only asked for money, but they did not know at all the substance of the activity or the travel related to the bill. According to him, the bill was submitted by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture.

"So, suddenly you get a bill. The activities have been carried out. "You know (the activities), yes, from that bill," said Hermanto.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

The defendant, former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, hugged his relatives before the trial began at the Jakarta Corruption Crime Court on Wednesday (28/2/2024).

Hermanto stated that the travel bill to Aceh and Makassar was to pay for the rental of a private jet for Syahrul's business trip. Meanwhile, during the Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca), Syahrul brought his family along.

On that occasion, Hermanto admitted to having spent his own money to pay for Syahrul's personal needs, such as paying for Syahrul's helper in Makassar. The order was given by Hermanto's superior.

When the public prosecutor read the examination report (BAP) of Hermanto regarding the matter, it was revealed that Hermanto had transferred money three times, namely Rp 22 million, Rp 10 million, and Rp 13 million, to people named Theresia and Pratiwi. Theresia was mentioned as a helper, while Pratiwi was mentioned as a doctor.

Also read: Syahrul Yasin Limpo Threatens His Subordinates to Collect Money

According to Hermanto, the minister's official travel expenses should be under the responsibility or budgeted for by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, various bills sent to the Directorate General of Plantation Crop and Horticulture were not budgeted for in the Directorate General's financial plan.

KOMPAS/DENTY PIAWAI NASTITIE

Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo walked out after attending the initial hearing of the alleged ethics violation committed by the suspended Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Firli Bahuri, at the KPK Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (20/12/2023).

Regarding sources of funds for paying bills, according to Puguh, the funds come from contributions from each directorate under the Directorate General of Public Service Procurement. Because the funds are not always available, some bills that come into the Directorate General of Public Service Procurement are paid gradually. "We only receive bills. As for the detailed calculations, I do not know," said Puguh.

Specifically, regarding the aircraft rental payment in 2020 for Syahrul's work visit to Maluku, according to Puguh, he was asked by Gunawan, the Director of Plantation Plant Breeding at the Ministry of Agriculture, to revise the DIPA of the Directorate General of PSP by including a budget of Rp 1.5 billion for aircraft rental. In 2021, the revision of the aircraft rental budget became a finding by the State Audit Agency (BPK) and was prohibited from being conducted.

Also read: Eight Ministry of Agriculture Employees Present as Witnesses at Syahrul Yasin Limpo's Follow-up Trial

During the trial, Hermanto admitted that he had heard information that echelon 1 and 2 officials who were not in line with the Minister of Agriculture's policy would be transferred or not given assignments (non-job). According to Hermanto, the working atmosphere at that time was uncomfortable.

According to Hermanto, payments for various expenses not included in the budget were made under duress. "Because they kept being billed. Before those bills were fulfilled, they kept being billed," he said.

BPK auditors ask for IDR 12 billion

In addition, it was also revealed that there was a demand for money from the BPK auditor to the Ministry of Agriculture for the 2022 report. In order for the Ministry of Agriculture to receive an unqualified opinion, BPK auditor named Victor Siahaan requested IDR 10 billion, which is a subordinate of auditor named Haerul Saleh. On another occasion, Viktor changed the demand for money to IDR 12 billion.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

A prosecutor from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) presented a photo of two auditors from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) who asked for Rp 12 billion from the Ministry of Agriculture to obtain an unqualified opinion in the corruption trial of Syahrul Yasin Limpo, in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

According to Hermanto, Viktor asked him to convey the request for money to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture. Hermanto admitted to recommending communicating with Hatta, who was known to handle off-budget matters. In the end, Hermanto heard that the BPK auditor's request was only fulfilled by Rp 5 billion of funding from a vendor who performed work at the Ministry of Agriculture. However, Hermanto claimed he did not know the name of the vendor.

President's Order

On the occasion, Syahrul asked Hermanto about the order to collect money. He answered that he did not know. Syahrul also asked about the threat of dismissal or coercion. On the contrary, according to Syahrul, what he conveyed was an order for the Ministry of Agriculture's officials not to commit corruption and not to request feedback.

Syahrul claimed that his departure abroad was an order from President Joko Widodo regarding the issue of soybean and meat prices, as well as the agriculture minister's meeting with several countries. "I am ready for all the consequences," said Syahrul.