JAKARTA: The government has no information on the whereabouts of Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo
(pic), according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, reported ANTARA news agency.
Limpo’s office and colleagues have reportedly lost contact with him since September 30 when he concluded his working trip in Europe.
“On the whereabouts (of Syahrul Yasin Limpo), we (the government) did not know either,” Mahfud remarked at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Mahfud underlined that the government will help the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in investigating the alleged graft within the Agriculture Ministry. Regarding Limpo’s disappearance, Mahfud stated that the government did not have any information about his whereabouts.
“I mean, if they (the KPK) encounter any problem, for instance, in investigating seized items or items allegedly destroyed, we will facilitate them to handle this. We will help, as it is the government’s task. However, as for his whereabouts, we are also unaware,” he stated.
Mahfud believes that the KPK has its own methods of locating Limpo, and it would not be easy for a public figure like a minister to go unnoticed by the public.
He dismissed the suspicion that Limpo might have attempted to flee the ongoing graft investigation as his legal status is still unclear.
Moreover, the police have not yet included his name on its list of wanted persons (DPO), the minister added.
Mahfud said he was informed that the KPK has named two suspects in the alleged graft case in the ministry but refused to furnish further details.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had called on all parties to wait for Limpo’s return to the country after he completed his working visit to Europe.
“Well, just wait. He went abroad and has yet to arrive in Indonesia,” Jokowi said on the sidelines of the opening of the Inacraft exhibition in Jakarta.
The president has asked journalists to try to contact Limpo.
“Who has lost contact? Try to contact him. Do any of you have his phone number? Contact him,” he stated.
The KPK, on Friday (September 29), searched Limpo’s official residence in Jakarta and discovered 12 firearms and banknotes worth approximately Rp30 billion (approximately US$1.9 million).
The commission alleged bribery scandals related to job promotions within the Agriculture Ministry and fraudulent projects involving private vendors.
On Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Harvick Hasnul Qolbi stated that the ministry had lost contact with Limpo after his visit to Italy and Spain.
The minister was expected to return home on either September 30 or October 1, Qolbi stated after a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Palace.
Jokowi on Tuesday appointed Qolbi as ad interim minister of agriculture.
Limpo left Jakarta on September 24 for a European working visit.
