Current:Home > Contact-usIndonesia’s agriculture minister resigns amid a corruption investigation-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Indonesia’s agriculture minister resigns amid a corruption investigation
View Date:2024-12-23 22:40:08
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) —
Indonesia’s agriculture minister resigned Thursday as the country’s anti-graft commission ramped up an investigation into alleged corruption at his ministry.
The Corruption Eradication Commission, known as KPK, has alleged that there has been bribery linked to job promotions at the Agriculture Ministry as well as fraudulent projects involving private vendors, but it has not disclosed details.
Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, though not yet been formally named as a suspect, said Thursday that he was resigning to focus on the case against him, and that he hopes the public will assume he is innocent until there is a court verdict.
“Don’t judge me first. Let the legal process proceed, and I’m ready to face it,” Limpo told a news conference in Jakarta.
Limpo was on working visit to Italy and Spain when the KPK searched his official residence in Jakarta last week. He returned to Jakarta late Wednesday.
KPK’s spokesperson Ali Fikri told a news conference shortly after the search that investigators had discovered about a dozen firearms and banknotes worth approximately 30 billion rupiah in several currencies ($1.9 million) at Limpo’s residence. They also had seized several documents.
Fikri said that his office cannot disclose the names of suspects because the case is ongoing. However, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Muhammad Mahfud, told reporters Wednesday that he has information indicating Limpo would be formally named as a suspect.
Limpo, a former South Sulawesi governor, is the second politician from the Nasdem Party to face recent prosecution. A trial is continuing for Johnny G. Plate, a former communication minister, over allegations of $533 million in graft in the procurement of equipment for a 4G communications project.
Nasdem Party is part of the ruling government coalition with seven other parties, but last November it endorsed a popular opposition politician, Anies Baswedan, as a presidential candidate in 2024. That prompted President Joko Widodo to refer to the party as an “outsider” in his coalition.
The cases against Plate and Limpo are likely to harm Nasdem’s chances in elections scheduled for February 2024, including its nomination of Baswedan, a former Jakarta governor, for president.
Fikri, the KPK spokesman, denied that the case against Limpo has any political motives.
Limpo appeared briefly at his ministry on Thursday before showing up for questioning at the Jakarta police headquarters. No arrest was made, and police declined to comment to the media after the questioning.
Limpo later told a news conference at Nasdem Party headquarters that he has submitted a resignation letter to President Widodo because he wants to focus on facing the case against him. “I hope that there will be no stigma,” Limpo said.
Limpo has frequently traveled overseas in recent months. He missed a KPK summons for an interrogation in mid-June due to a visit to India, although he honored the summons later that month.
He said that his trips overseas are to “strengthen cooperation in agricultural modernization and facilitate export markets for Indonesian agricultural products.”
“My traveling is for the benefit of the people. I have to feed nearly 280 million people,” Limpo said.
He added that during his decades-long career as a public official, it was the first time he has been involved in a legal process.
veryGood! (517)
Related
- Pistons' Ausar Thompson cleared to play after missing 8 months with blood clot
- Facebook chirping sound is a bug not a new update. Here's how to stop it now.
- How ageism against Biden and Trump puts older folks at risk
- Vampire Weekend announces North American tour, shares new music ahead of upcoming album
- Maine dams face an uncertain future
- MLB's hottest commodity, White Sox ace Dylan Cease opens up about trade rumors
- Deion Sanders bets big on new defensive coach: What to know about his Colorado contract
- Everything you need to know about this year’s Oscars
- Sports are a must-have for many girls who grow up to be leaders
- Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA women's basketball scoring record
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg Shares Very Relatable Reason She's Remained on The View
- When Harry Met Sally Almost Had a Completely Different Ending
- Taylor Swift gives $100,000 to the family of the woman killed in the Chiefs parade shooting
- Body of deceased woman, 30 human cremains found at house after ex-funeral home owner evicted
- She's a trans actress and 'a warrior.' Now, this 'Emilia Pérez' star could make history.
- Robert Hur, special counsel in Biden documents case, to testify before Congress on March 12
- Driver who rammed onto packed California sidewalk convicted of hit-and-run but not DUI
- Caitlin Clark's scoring record reveals legacies of Lynette Woodard and Pearl Moore
Recommendation
-
Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
-
3.8 magnitude earthquake hits Ontario, California; also felt in Los Angeles
-
Nkechi Diallo, Formerly Known as Rachel Dolezal, Speaks Out After Losing Job Over OnlyFans Account
-
Salad kit from Bristol Farms now included in listeria-related recalls as outbreak grows
-
Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
-
Blogger Laura Merritt Walker Shares Her 3-Year-Old Son Died After Tragic Accident
-
Bella Hadid Gives Rare Look Into Romance with Cowboy Adam Banuelos
-
Loophole allows man to live rent-free for 5 years in landmark New York hotel