Corruption Eradication Committee Investigates Testimony Requesting Rp. 12 Billion from BPK so that Ministry of Agriculture Gets WTP Opinion

Found in the Red-and-White Building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday evening, Head of the KPK Public Relations Division Ali Fikri stated that there are indeed many interesting facts in the trial of defendant Syahrul Yasin Limpo. All trial facts have been well-documented by the prosecution team.

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The agency has also previously discussed the statement about the request for IDR 12 billion from the BPK auditor's parties so that the Ministry of Agriculture can obtain an unqualified opinion (WTP).

"We have discussed this matter with the prosecutor before. Once again, further development will occur when the entire legal process is completed, which will confirm the testimony of other witnesses as legal facts," said Ali to reporters.

Once again, further development will come when the legal proceedings are complete, so confirmation from other witnesses can become a legal fact.

He added that the Director of Investigation of the Corruption Eradication Commission Brigadier General (Pol) Asep Guntur Rahayu also conveyed that technically the prosecution team will prepare trial reports and progressive indictments. This will be included in the prosecution's progress report and will also serve as the basis for developing cases that have actually arisen in the trial process of corruption cases at the Ministry of Agriculture.

"If in the investigation process, usually the investigating officer can directly determine the responsibility of other parties based on the progress report of the investigation. However, in the trial processes, the progress report of the prosecution will be presented only when everything is complete. The prosecutor will conclude in their analysis in the indictment letter before compiling the progress report of the prosecution," said Ali.

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

He explained that the BPK auditor has never been investigated in the corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture because this fact only surfaced in court. There are several new findings from testimonies that have been revealed in the trial process.

The case of alleged corruption in the Ministry of Agriculture is still ongoing, especially for the investigation of money laundering crimes. Therefore, Ali believes that it is very possible for the investigation team to also summon the names that emerged in the trial to further investigate regarding the flow of money.

"So, wait until there is a investigation process of money laundering or in the trial. The investigation will certainly call anyone who has been mentioned in the trial. The prosecutor will confirm again in the trial process," said Ali.

Also read: Threat of Food Crisis for Local Communities in the Midst of "Food Estate" Failure

As previously reported, witness Hermanto admitted to the KPK prosecutor that he was aware of the BPK's investigation into the Ministry of Agriculture. BPK focuses on findings in thefood estate program. He also admitted that there was a request from the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture for IDR 12 billion so that the Ministry of Agriculture's financial report opinion became WTP because of the findings in the food estate program (Kompas.com, 8/5/ 2024).