Tracing The Bribery Money For Social Assistance For COVID-19 Juliari Batubara, KPK Checks Vendors

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to trace bribes in the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) project in Jabodetabek. The tracing was carried out by examining four witnesses.

The four witnesses questioned by the KPK on Wednesday, March 17 were PT Dharma Lantara Jaya employees, Kunto; an employee of the Indonesian Trading Company, Joyce Josephine; Director of PT Riskaindo Jaya, Jonni Sitohang and employees of PT Afira Indah Megatama, Raka.

The four witnesses are suspected of knowing the flow of money from the former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara through his subordinates, the former commitment-making official (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso.

"KPK investigators are still conducting deepening, including in relation to companies from witnesses who became vendors in the implementation of Social Assistance for the Jabodetabek area in 2020 at the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as well as the alleged flow of money to the JPB suspect through the suspect MJS," said Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri in his written statement, Thursday, March 18th.

In fact, the KPK summoned five witnesses at that time. However, one of the witnesses, namely Moto, who is a private party from PT Asricitra Pratama, was not present and will be rescheduled.

Previously reported, Juliari Peter Batubara was named a suspect in the alleged corruption case of social assistance procurement in December 2020. This case ensnared four other suspects, namely two commitment-making officials (PPK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso, as well as private parties Ardian IM and Harry Sidabuke.

In this case, the KPK suspects that Juliari received Rp. 17 billion from the two periods of the provision of basic food assistance. This case was revealed starting from the arrest of Matheus through an operation to catch hands (OTT).

For his actions, Juliari is suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code. .

Meanwhile, Matheus and Adi are suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 and Article 12 letter (i) of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption Crimes. Jo Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, as bribes, Ardian and Harry were suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 Year 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 Year 2001 regarding Corruption Eradication.