Can The Corruption Eradication Commission Prove Novel Baswedan's Remarks About Social Assistance Corruption Reaching IDR 100 Trillion?
JAKARTA - Allegations of corruption in the COVID-19 Social Assistance fund worth IDR 100 trillion are widely discussed and discussed by netizens. More than 164 thousand netizens discussed the matter through "100 T" until it became a trending topic on Twitter social media, Wednesday, May 19.
Initially, KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) senior investigator, Novel Baswedan, suspected that state losses were due to the COVID-19 social assistance corruption case reached IDR 100 trillion.
According to him, this is based on if the social assistance corruption case does not only occur in DKI Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
But similar cases also occur in all regions in Indonesia with the same pattern so that it needs further investigation.
"This is a case that should be investigated further. This case is worth tens of trillions. In fact, I think the project value is one hundred trillion and this is the biggest corruption I have ever noticed”, said Novel.
Novel Baswedan also regrets that the Head of the Task Force investigator for the social assistance case, Andre Dedy Nainggolan, is one of the KPK employees who is currently being disabled regarding the TWK (National Insights Test) results, in which he was also the person who played a role in dragging former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara to the court.
What if the COVID-19 social assistance corruption is truly fantastic?
Guspardi Gaus, a member of the PAN faction at the Indonesian Parliament, said he was surprised by the statement made by Novel Baswedan. Although it is still uncertain and it is necessary to investigate this case further.
He asked Novel to prove what he said about the alleged corruption of social assistance which was of extraordinary value.
"If it is true, what Novel Baswedan said would be a big tsunami for the eradication of corruption in Indonesia", said Guspardi, Wednesday, May 19.
On the one hand, the PAN politician regretted Novel revealing something new to the public in the form of assumptions or assumptions. In fact, he said, Novel Baswedan as a senior KPK investigator should have worked in silence.
The legislator from West Sumatra said that it was necessary to further deepen the information provided by Novel and it would be a challenge to prove the Antirasuah institution.
"If it is proven and has a strong indication that there is a suspicion of fund irregularities relating to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, then this needs to be taken further steps", said Guspardi.
Moreover, Novel, as a senior KPK investigator, revealed the similarities in the patterns of social assistance corruption in the regions with DKI Jakarta.
"So it could be that the same trend of irregularities also occurs in all regions of Indonesia. It is reasonable to suspect that this case involves many parties for the sake of reaping the benefits", said the member of Commission II of the Indonesian Parliament.
For this reason, he asked law enforcement officials and the KPK to immediately step in and explore. and follow up further to prove and reveal the information conveyed by Novel Baswedan regarding the alleged corruption of COVID-19 social assistance funds could become clear.
"So that the social assistance corruption case that is suspected of involving certain people will be resolved. This is certainly one of the most massive efforts to uncover the mega corruption scandal case and will involve many officials in the regions and must be disclosed immediately", said members of the Indonesian Parliament Legislative Body.
Massive Mega Corruption Scandal
Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, also highlighted the statement of KPK investigator Novel Baswedan regarding the alleged misconduct of COVID-19 social assistance which is worth up to IDR 100 trillion.
According to him, if there is social assistance corruption of fantastic value, then law enforcement officials, especially the KPK explore and trace further to prove what Novel Baswedan said.
"If it is proven to have a strong indication of irregularities in funds related to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, then all law enforcement agencies must take action", Sultan told reporters on Wednesday, May 19.
Moreover, he continued, KPK investigators considered that there were similarities in the patterns of social assistance corruption in the regions with DKI Jakarta. So, it could be that from this pattern there is a tendency for the same deviation in all regions of Indonesia.
"So this is one of the efforts to reveal the most massive corruption mega scandal case and will involve many officials in the regions. This must be revealed immediately", said the senator from Bengkulu.
Nevertheless, the Sultan hoped that Novel's statement would not be linked to the polemic situation of TWK results. Because as an institution, he said, the KPK must continue to carry out law enforcement duties in professionally eradicating corruption.
"I am sure that the KPK will be professional, especially in overseeing the use of social assistance funds in Indonesia. I hope that the polemic that arises will not affect the overall performance of the KPK", said Sultan.
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There is Evidence
Trisakti University Criminal Law Observer Abdul Fickar Hadjar assessed that the statement of KPK investigator Novel Baswedan regarding the alleged misconduct of COVID-19 social assistance, which amounted to IDR 100 trillion, was true. Because as an investigator, Novel'll already have evidence for saying.
"The novel is an investigator, meaning that what is said is the result of an investigation. It means that it is not just a talk but there is basic evidence. The basic evidence can be from evidence confiscated from the perpetrators", said Abdul Fickar when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, May 19.
"For example, how many have been distributed, it turns out that the area distributed has not been completely checked, or only a part of it can be counted. This means that an investigator can't speak without evidence", he continued.
Regarding the TWK polemic, according to Fickar, the KPK leadership should have separated the management, duties, and authority issues. Moreover, the finding of the IDR 100 trillion social assistance corruption allegation is good data.
"So I don't think it will interfere (investigation, red). This is good data, we just need to develop it. It's ridiculous to deactivate 75 (employees, ed). It's ridiculous in my opinion that Firli thinks he can work without the best people. at the KPK. This must be considered", said Fickar.
Fickar said, if there is awareness to eradicate corruption, the KPK will not stop. This means that the data can be processed into discoveries.
"Second, the KPK does not have to work alone. For example, in the region, it can work with the local police or law enforcement, or the local prosecutor's office. Corruption can be handled directly by the prosecutor's office, so I think it can work in synergy with the Attorney General", he explained.
According to Fickar, Novel's statement stating the nominal amount of the alleged corruption will not backfire on this anti-graft agency.
"The term used is suspected. Second, the investigator will not release data carelessly, he already knows. By calculating the evidence, the calculations are visible, so it will never become a boomerang", he said.