Saut Situmorang Demands KPK to Be Open about State Losses of Rp2.7 Trillion Aswad Sulaiman
JAKARTA - The 2015-2019 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leadership, Saut Situmorang, assessed that the leadership of the KPK for the period 2024-2029 needs to provide an open explanation to the public regarding the state's losses of up to Rp. 2.7 trillion in the case of alleged corruption of the former Regent of North Konawe, Aswad Sulaiman, whose investigation has now been stopped.
"So, he has to explain that there is no count, where is there no count? What is the basis? What was announced by Saut and Febri? Who is the investigator?" said Saut when contacted from Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, December 30.
He emphasized that the announcement of state losses in the case in 2017 was not a unilateral decision, but the result of the collective decision of the five leaders of the KPK at that time.
"Ask the investigators. Who was the investigator at that time? Is it true that this Saut again sableng when he announced? We announced it not because I myself. It was the five leaders who decided," he said.
According to Saut, the current leadership of the KPK needs to explain in detail the reasons for the termination of the investigation of the Aswad Sulaiman case, especially because the termination was based on the reason that there was not enough evidence due to the Indonesian Financial Supervisory Board (BPK) experiencing difficulties in calculating state losses.
"Yes, he has to keep explaining what it was like. What was it before that we forced to meet the numbers? It can't be either," said Saut.
He also emphasized that before announcing the status of suspect Aswad Sulaiman, the 2015-2019 period KPK had cooperated and coordinated with the BPK RI.
"Oh yes, it's already. Yes, we can't just say it. What is the basis? Later we will be the subject of gossip," he said.
Thus, Saut considers that the 2024-2029 period of the KPK needs to convey publicly to the public whether the KPK's decision on October 3, 2017, when Aswad Sulaiman was named a suspect and announced the potential state losses of IDR 2.7 trillion, was a mistake or not.
"Find and meet the investigators who were there before. Have you been asked what it is? So that it is clear, whether the previous leadership is considered to be all of them. Transparent, accountable, free of interests, and must be honest," said Saut.
As is known, on October 3, 2017, the KPK named Aswad Sulaiman as the Acting Regent of North Konawe for the 2007-2009 period and the Regent of North Konawe for the 2011-2016 period as suspects of alleged corruption related to the granting of mining exploration and exploitation power permits and mining business permits for production operations in North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, for the period 2007-2014.
The KPK at that time suspected that Aswad Sulaiman caused state losses of at least IDR 2.7 trillion from the sale of nickel production obtained through a licensing process that was allegedly against the law.
In addition, Aswad is also suspected of receiving bribes of up to Rp. 13 billion from a number of mining companies.
On September 14, 2023, the KPK had planned to detain Aswad Sulaiman, but the plan was canceled because the person concerned was rushed to the hospital.
Then on December 26, 2025, the KPK announced the termination of the investigation into the case on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence.
Furthermore, on December 29, 2025, the KPK said that the BPK RI had difficulties in calculating state losses, which affected the continuation of the legal process of the case.