KPK Checks Chairman Of Commission VIII DPR RI Yandry Susanto Regarding Social Assistance Bribery

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted an examination of three witnesses in the bribery case for the provision of social assistance (bansos) COVID-19 in Jabodetabek. One of the witnesses summoned was the Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Yandry Susanto.

This National Mandate Party (PAN) politician will be examined as a witness for the former Ministry of Social Affairs Commitment Making Officer (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso who is a suspected bribe recipient.

"The person concerned is being examined as a witness for the suspect MJS," said Acting KPK spokesperson for prosecution Ali Fikri in a written statement, Tuesday, March 30.

Even so, he did not explain regarding the examination of Yandry. However, every witness called is suspected of knowing about the case being investigated by the KPK.

Apart from Yandry, two other witnesses who will be questioned are a private party named Prospelany and a notary named Sahat Simanungkalit. They will also be examined as witnesses for Matheus Joko.

Previously reported, the KPK named a number of suspects in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) food packages for the handling of COVID-19 in the Greater Jakarta area, including former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono as the bribe recipients and Ardian IM and Harry Sidabuke as the bribes.

This case began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi to carry out this project by directly appointing partners. The KPK suspects that it was agreed that there was a fee from the work package that partners had to pay to the Ministry of Social Affairs.

As for the fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package that Matheus and Adi agreed to, it was IDR 10,000 from a value of IDR 300 thousand. The two of them then made work contracts with several suppliers as partners for providing social assistance in May-November 2020.

The partners chosen were AIM, HS, and PT Rajawali Parama Indonesia alias PT RPI which allegedly belonged to Matheus and whose appointment was known to Juliari.

In the first phase of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of Rp 12 billion was allegedly received. Matheus gave around Rp. 8.2 billion in cash to Juliari through Adi which was then used to meet personal needs.

When conducting OTT in this case, the KPK also confiscated evidence in the form of money that had been prepared from the bribes, namely AIM and HS in one of the apartments in Jakarta and Bandung. Rp14.5 billion was kept in a number of suitcases and bags and consisted of rupiah denominations and foreign currency.