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Agriculture Minister returns to Indonesia as KPK intensifies investigation
His return to the country ends days of speculation over his whereabouts in Europe with deputy minister previously says that the last communication with Syahrul was made before he departed for Spain with several ministry officials and staff.
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Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo greets journalists as he arrived at the State Palace on Oct. 22, 2019. (JP/Donny Fernando)
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fter days of being off the grid in Europe, embattled Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo returned to Indonesia on Wednesday, just as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) ramped up its investigation into alleged graft at his ministry.
Syahrul, having taken an extended trip to Italy and Spain since late September, landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten on Wednesday night, Immigration Director General Silmy Karim confirmed to The Jakarta Post.
His return to the country ends days of speculation over his whereabouts in Europe. Deputy Agriculture Minister Harvick Hasnul Qolbi told reporters that he had last communicated with Syahrul before the latter departed for Spain with several ministry officials and staff.
The minister left Jakarta on Sept. 24 to attend a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference and a bilateral meeting with the organization director general Qu Dongyu in Rome. His entourage later flew to Spain for a working visit.
According to the initial plan, Syahrul was slated to return to Indonesia on Oct. 1 at the latest.
Reports of Syahrul going missing were rife after the KPK conducted raids to gather more evidence into alleged corruption in the Agriculture Ministry.
KPK investigators raided Syahrul’s official residence and the ministry’s office in South Jakarta last week while the minister was abroad. The search was part of the antigraft body’s investigation into possible corruption at the ministry, according to the KPK.
