Allegedly Receiving A Flow Of Coal Mining Money From Rita Widyasari, KPK Checks Tan Paulin

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the connection between the President Director of PT Sentosa Laju Energy, Tan Paulin in the alleged money laundering crime (TPPU) that ensnared former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari continues to be investigated. It is suspected that the entrepreneur received a flow of money from a company that manages mining permits.

"The money flows to several people, the company including TP's brother," said KPK Director of Investigation Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted on Thursday, September 19.

Meanwhile, the estimated money that Rita received from coal entrepreneurs, continued Asep, reached 3.3 US dollars to 5 dollars per metric ton per exploration was carried out.

"That's because we are handling this RW brother (in the case, red) TPPU, we are looking for where the money went from there. From the RW sister, yes, one of them went to the TP," he said.

This reason prompted the KPK some time ago to summon Tan Paulin in the case of money laundering Rita Widyasari. Asep said investigators must have explored a number of things, including the flow of money allegedly into the mine entrepreneur's pocket.

"We must confirm, ask, what is the status of this money. Is there a cooperation agreement, buying and selling or what problems, for example, buying goods from Mrs. TP. Well, the money comes from there (mining company, ed)," he said.

"That's what we confirm, including to several people, not just Mrs. TP," continued Asep.

As previously reported, Rita Widyasari was named a suspect along with Commissioner of PT Media Bangun Bersama, Khairudin on January 16, 2018. Both are suspected of washing money from the results of project and licensing gratuities at the Kutai Kartanegara Provincial Government worth Rp436 billion.

Rita is currently a resident of Pondok Bambu Women's Prison, East Jakarta because she was proven to have received gratuities of Rp. 110.7 billion and bribes of up to Rp. 6 billion from permit applicants and project partners. He had to serve a sentence of 10 years in prison which was handed down by the Jakarta Corruption Court on July 6, 2018.

In this money laundering case, the anti-corruption commission has confiscated hundreds of vehicles consisting of cars and motorbikes up to billions of rupiah. Forced efforts were made after investigators searched nine offices and 19 houses including coal entrepreneurs from East Kalimantan, Said Amin.