Investigating Allegations Of Badminton Corruption, KPK Says This About Luhut's Call Opportunities

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it would look for criminal incidents related to the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project through a number of parties. Requests for information will be carried out in the investigation stage.

"We make sure, yes, the KPK continues to investigate through parties suspected of knowing, having information, and the information needed to unravel, to clarify, and make light of this case," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, October 27.

Meanwhile, when asked about the opportunity to summon Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in this investigation, Budi did not talk much. He only said the investigation process was different from the investigation.

"Investigations, continued Budi, will usually be carried out behind closed doors. So, in detail, the substance is that the parties who are asked for information are what material is, we cannot convey it in detail," he said.

Luhut is known to be the Chairman of the Fast Train Committee between Jakarta and Bandung when he served as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment in the era of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

This is in accordance with Permenko Marves Number 7 of 2022 following up on Presidential Regulation Number 93 of 2021 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 107 of 2015 concerning the Acceleration of Implementation of High-speed Train Infrastructure and Facilities between Jakarta and Bandung.

Meanwhile, when the alleged mark-up was widely discussed, Luhut also had time to mention that the cooperation project with China was problematic.

"So indeed I received the rotten project (WHesh) which is good," said Luhut in Jakarta some time ago, quoted from various media.

For information, MAYh serves the Jakarta-Bandung route with a length of 142.3 kilometers with a travel time of about 30'45 minutes and has been operating since October 2023 after being inaugurated by the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This project is a collaboration between the Indonesian government and China.

The project value at that time was only targeted at 5.13 billion US dollars or around Rp. 82.08 trillion. However, this figure swelled by 1.2 billion US dollars to 7.27 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 115 trillion assuming the US dollar exchange rate was Rp. 16 thousand.

Previously reported, information on the investigation into budget inflations or mark-ups in the Jakarta 'Bandung high-speed rail project, God willing, was initially conveyed by the acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur.

"Currently it is at the investigation stage," said Asep when confirmed by VOI, Monday, October 27.

Asep did not explain in more detail when the investigation began. He only said that the process was carried out behind closed doors as usual at the investigation stage at the KPK.