Banten Prosecutor's Office Examines Former Acting Governor's Office For Bulk Oil Corruption

Archives. Acting Governor of Banten Ucok Abdulrauf Damenta (right) /ANTARA PHOTO / Angga Budhiyanto.

JAKARTA - The Banten High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) examined the former Acting Governor of Banten Ucok Abdulrauf Damenta regarding the investigation into the alleged corruption case of buying and selling bulk cooking oil in 2025 which cost the state finances up to Rp20.4 billion.

The examination was carried out to explore information regarding a number of policies related to PT Agribusiness Banten Mandiri (ABM), BUMD belonging to the Banten Provincial Government.

Head of the Investigation Section of the Banten Attorney General's Office, Herman, confirmed that investigators had asked for Damenta's statement.

"The examination was carried out to find out the role of local government policies when the transaction took place. The former Acting Governor of Banten, Mr. Damenta, gave us information in this case," Herman said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 25.

He emphasized that the examination was still in the capacity of witnesses. One of the materials asked to Damenta was the appointment of the suspect Yoga Utama as the Acting President Director of ABM.

Regarding the general meeting of shareholders and the policy of buying cooking oil, we haven't gotten there yet. He was examined before today," he said.

In this case, the Banten Attorney General's Office investigators have named two suspects, namely the Acting President Director of PT ABM Yoga Utama and the Director of PT Karyacipta Agro-Mandiri Nusantara (KAN) with the initials AAW.

Both were detained after investigators found allegations of irregularities in the sale and purchase of non-DMO bulk cooking oil.

This case began on February 28, 2025 when PT ABM entered into a sale and purchase agreement of 1,200 tons of bulk cooking oil with PT KAN worth Rp20.4 billion, with payments through Domestic Documented Credit (SKBDN).

However, on March 27, 2025, the SKBDN was disbursed through Bank BRI Bintaro Branch, while the goods promised were never sent to ABM.

Herman said the results of the investigation showed state losses reached Rp20,487,194,100. The impact was categorized as total loss because no cooking oil was received at all.

"As a result, the state has suffered a total loss. Until now the goods have not been sent. Whether the provider has qualifications or not, we are still investigating it," he said.

Investigators suspect the agreement is a fictitious transaction. There is no evidence of availability or delivery of cooking oil as stated in the contract. "It can be said that. The keyword, until now the goods have not been sent," said Herman.

Investigations are still ongoing to reveal other parties who have the potential to be responsible, including the decision-making process for purchasing bulk oil in ABM and the feasibility of provider companies. The Banten Attorney General's Office ensures that the legal process runs without compromise until all levels of state financial accountability are exposed.