Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Friday (24/02) he would sack ministry officials who get themselves involved with meat import cartels.

"I will fire anyone in my ministry involved [with meat import cartels]," Amran said after meeting with commissioners from the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, in Jakarta.

The anti-graft agency is currently investigating a bribery case related to a judicial review of Law No. 41/2014 on Animal Farming and Health which involved former Constitutional Court judge Patrialis Akbar.

Basuki Hariman, director of a company called Sumber Laut Perkasa, and Patrialis have been named suspects in the case along with suspected middleman K.M. Kamaludin.

Investigators found dozens of stamps from institutions and agencies involved with meat import in Basuki's office. One of them is the official stamp of the directorate general of animal farming and health at the ministry.

Amran said the KPK is digging further into the case. "We'll let the law enforcers do their job," Amran said.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said they summoned Amran to discuss the antigraft agency's study on state subsidy for farming.

The bribery scandal was revealed by the KPK after a sting operation in January. Patrialis reportedly received $20,000 and SGD$200,000 ($140,000) in bribes from Basuki, according to the agency.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/agricultural-minister-to-sack-officials-involved-in-meat-import-cartel/