Prosecutor Called Juliari Batubara To Use Social Assistance Fee To Buy Sacrificial Cows

JAKARTA - The public prosecutor (JPU) revealed that the fees collected by former Social Minister (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara from companies providing goods were used for various purposes. Some of them paid for Cita Citata's swordplay services to buy sacrificial cows.

"Furthermore, with the defendant's knowledge, Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono also used fee money for the Defendant's operational activities as Minister of Social Affairs and other operational activities at the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs," said the public prosecutor to the KPK reading the indictment files at trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 21.

In the indictment file, there were at least 11 activities for which bill payments used the fee money. When totaled, the fees incurred to pay bills reached IDR 1.7 billion.

"The purchase of cellphones for Ministry of Social officials worth IDR 140 million, payment of swab test fees at the Ministry of Social Affairs amounting to IDR 30 million, payment for sacrificial cows of IDR 100 million, payment for food and drink and accommodation for the social assistance team, volunteer team and monitoring team for IDR 200 million, payment for food and drink. leadership amounting to Rp130 million, "said the prosecutor.

Some other expenses include the purchase of two Brompton bikes to the payment of Cita Citata services.

"Purchase of 2 units of Brompton brand bikes for Rp120 million, payment to EO for honorarium of the Cita Citata artist at the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs Dinner and Gathering at Ayana Komodo Resort Labuan Bajo on November 27, 2020 amounting to Rp150 million," he said.

"The operational activities of the PSKBS directorate amounted to Rp100 million, private jet rental payments for the work visit of the defendant as the Minister of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs' entourage to Lampung and Bali, each amounting to Rp270 million," he said.

Finally, the private jet lease payment for Juliari Peter Batubara and the Ministry of Social Affairs' entourage during a working visit to Semarang amounting to USD 18,000 or worth IDR 261 million and other expenses used for operational activities at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Barubara was charged with accepting bribes worth Rp32.4 billion in the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) project throughout Jabodetabek. The bribe was received through two of his men.

Juliari was charged with accepting bribes through Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso amounting to Rp1,280 billion from a private party named Harry Van Sidabukke.

Juliari also received money worth Rp1,950 billion from the President Director of PT Tigapilar Agro Utama Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja.

Finally, the indictment also stated that Juliari received money worth Rp.29,252,000,000 or Rp.29.2 billion from several goods providers in the social assistance project.