After Being Made A Suspect, The KPK Detained The Former Head Of BIG And The Former Head Of LAPAN

Illustration (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained the Head of the 2014-2016 Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Priyadi Kardono (PRK) and the Head of the Center for Aerospace Technology Utilization (Kapusfatekgan) at the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) 2013-2015 Muchamad Muchlis (MUM).

The two were detained after being named suspects in the alleged corruption in the procurement of High Resolution Satellite Imagery (CSRT) at the Information and Geospatial Agency (BIG) in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) for the 2015 Fiscal Year.

"Each of the suspects will be detained for the first 20 days starting from January 20, 2021 to February 8, 2021," said KPK Deputy Chairman Lili Pintauli Siregar at the KPK Building, Wednesday, January 20.

In detention, the two of them were placed in different locations. For the suspect, Priyadi Kardono was placed in the KPK detention center (Rutan), Kavling C1 branch. Meanwhile, the suspect Muchamad Muchlis was placed in the KPK detention center Pomdam Jaya Guntur branch.

However, before being detained, both of them must undergo independent isolation for 14 days. This is done in order to ensure that both of them are completely healthy and that there is no transmission of COVID-19.

"As the fulfillment of health protocols in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the KPK prison environment, previously the two suspects were isolated independently at the KPK detention center Kavling C1 branch," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK named two suspects in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of High Resolution Satellite Imagery (CSRT). They caused state losses of Rp. 179.1 billion.

This case started in 2015, when BIG collaborated with LAPAN in the procurement of CSRT. Since the beginning of the procurement planning and budgeting process, Priyadi and Muchlis are suspected of having agreed to fabricate projects that are against the rules for procurement of goods and services set by the Government.

The two of them have held several meetings with certain parties and potential partner companies who have been determined to accept the project, namely PT Ametis Indogeo Prakarsa and PT Bhumi Prasaja, before discussing the preparation of CSRT procurement.

On the orders of the two suspects, the preparation of various Terms of Reference (TOR) documents as the basis for implementing CSRT directly involved PT Ametis Indogeo Prakarsa and PT Bhumi Prasaja in order to "lock in" the specifications of the CSRT equipment.

"For the payment process to partners, the suspects are also suspected of ordering their staff to pay each term without the administrative documents for the handover and the Quality Control (QC) process," said Lili.

The two suspects were suspected of having committed crimes against Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 KUHP.