Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Friday appointed Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, as Acting Minister of Agriculture, following the resignation of Syahrul Yasin Limpo over an alleged corruption case.”The head of Bapanas, Arief Prasetyo Adi, will serve as an Acting Agriculture Minister,” Jokowi informed the media at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta.
He stated that Adi’s appointment aims to facilitate coordination between the agency and the ministry.
“This is because the Agriculture Ministry, Trade Ministry, and Bapanas usually work together,” he stated.
Jokowi mentioned that he received Limpo’s resignation letter on Thursday evening via State Secretary Minister Pratikno.
“I have received it, and this morning, it has been followed up. I have also signed it,” he remarked.
Limpo submitted a letter of resignation to President Jokowi amid an alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture that is being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Limpo returned to Indonesia on October 4 after his office reported losing contact with him during his working trip to Italy and Spain amid the corruption case investigation.
On September 29, 2023, the KPK announced that it had raised the status of the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture to the investigation stage. It has also named several parties as suspects in this case.
However, the KPK has not disclosed the names of responsible parties as the investigation and evidence collection process is still ongoing.
KPK investigators searched Limpo’s official residence in Jakarta on September 28 and found evidence in the form of cash worth billions of rupiah.
They also recovered 12 firearms, which have been handed over to the Jakarta Metropolitan Office for further investigation.
Source: Antara News Agency