Deny Abuse of Authority, Arinal Emphasizes the Appointment of the Board of Directors of PT LEB in accordance with the Rules

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The issue of alleged abuse of authority by former Lampung Governor Arinal Djunaidi resurfaced in the middle of the trial for alleged corruption in the management of the 10 percent Participating Interest (PI) of the Southeast Sumatra Working Area (WK SES).

Arinal is said to have appointed his relative, Budi Kurniawan, as a director of PT Lampung Energi Berjaya (PT LEB). However, this allegation was denied by Arinal's legal team.

Arinal's lawyer, Ana Sofa Yuking, emphasized that the entire process of appointing the directors of PT LEB had been carried out through the fit and proper test mechanism by the selection committee formed based on Lampung Governor's Decree No. G/321/B.04/HK/2020 dated July 8, 2020.

"The appointment of the BUMD directors is not the personal authority of the governor. All prospective directors follow an open and objective selection process in accordance with laws and regulations," said Ana.

He added that Arinal was not part of the selection committee, was not involved in the assessment, and did not have the authority to approve or dismiss the candidate directors.

Thus, the allegation of violation of Article 76 paragraph (1) letters d and e of Law No. 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government is considered unfounded.

In addition to the selection, the appointment of the directors of PT LEB has also been approved through the General Meeting of Shareholders (RUPS) on November 4, 2020 and was recorded in a notary deed on January 7, 2021.

"The decision of the GMS is the legal basis for the appointment of directors, not the unilateral decision of the regional head," said Ana.