Employees of Ministry of Agriculture Urge to Fund SYL and Family in Saudi Arabia: Exposing Corruption Scandal Worth IDR 6 Billion

CNN Indonesia

Wednesday, 08 May 2024 21:05 IWST

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Several employees of the Ministry of Agriculture revealed that several echelon I officials were asked to come together to fund the expenses Siahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) and their family while in Saudi Arabia.

Based on the testimony of the witnesses presented at the trial, SYL’s activity in Saudi Arabia was indeed in the context of an official visit or a work trip. But it is also different with Umrah pilgrimage.

One of the witnesses presented by the KPK in this trial was the Head of the Supply Sub-Division of the General Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdul Hafidh.

He said the service fees were enough to fund SYL’s service agenda in Saudi Arabia. However, it became smaller when SYL brought her family of more than 10 people.

“For the Minister, that may be enough, sir, but there are some who may not be enough,” said Hafidh at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Wednesday (8/5).

Hafid said that lack of funds for SYL and family agenda in Saudi Arabia meant that several echelon I officials were asked to join. As a result, IDR 6 billion was received.

“If you were to calculate yesterday it was around IDR 6 billion,” said Hafidh.

The former coordinator of household products for the Ministry of Agriculture, Arief Sopian, was also questioned at the trial.

Arief revealed that his wife and children were in the SYL family that was invited to Saudi Arabia.

“Mother, child, grandchild can come with us,” Arief answered when asked by the judge.

At that time, Arief revealed that the number of family members that SYL brought in was more than 10 people. However, he did not specify who was invited in the group.

“Over 10?” asked the judge.

“More,” replied Arief.

In the same session, the Expenditure Treasurer of the Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure (PSP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Puguh Hari Wibowo, explained that SYL’s activities in Saudi Arabia were not only work trips, but also Umrah pilgrimages .

He said it happened in 2022.

In this case, SYL was charged for the pleasure and extortion of several employees of the Ministry of Agriculture for a total of IDR 44.5 billion.

Apart from SYL, several officials from the Ministry of Agriculture are also being tried as defendants, namely the non-executive General Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi and the non-executive Director of the Ministry of Agriculture M. Hatta.

(tim/bmw)