Luhut And Erick Thohir Reported On Alleged PCR Business, KPK: Directorate Of Public Complaints Will Review

DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that reports against the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marinves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Erick Thohir regarding the alleged corruption in the PCR test business had been received by the correspondence department.

Later, after the correspondence section of the anti-corruption commission has completed its duties, the Directorate of Public Complaints (Dumas) will immediately review the report.

"The letter, based on the checking, has been received by the correspondence department, of course this will go through a mechanism and will be received by the Dumas Directorate and will be reviewed," said KPK Investigation Director Setyo Budiyanto in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Thursday, November 4.

This study needs to be carried out to find out whether the allegations are in accordance with the authority of the anti-corruption commission in accordance with Article 11 of Law Number 19 of 2019.

If appropriate, the KPK will then follow up with other activities such as conducting clarification. "There is (search, red) information, clarification, requests for data, and others," said Setyo.

"So it is still a process and we will not answer whether to clarify anyone because it is a work pattern. But who will be from Dumas and the KPK Investigation Directorate will carry out the investigation," he added.

Furthermore, Setyo also appreciated the reports submitted by the public. Moreover, this report was submitted through an official channel so that the KPK could follow up.

"Regarding information and reports on indications or allegations of corruption in the procurement of PCR, we thank the public or certain groups who provide information and even report officially," he said.

As previously reported, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Erick Thohir's reports were reported to the KPK regarding the alleged PCR business being carried out by the People's Fair and Prosperous Party (PRIMA).

PRIMA Deputy Chairperson Alif Kamal said this report was carried out because the alleged PCR test business made the community difficult in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to making it difficult for the public, this allegation is also reported because the price of PCR tests often changes and the basic price is not clear. Alif emphasized that there was no transparency regarding the procurement of the tools used to detect COVID-19.

There is also the initial data submitted by PRIMA in the form of a collection of news related to the alleged PCR business. He hoped that the KPK could explore the data by summoning Luhut and Erick Thohir.

"I think this is the initial data for the KPK to be able to reveal this, just call him Luhut, just call him Erick so that the KPK clears to explain to the public that this is what happened," he said.

Luhut's Rebuttal

Previously, Spokesperson for Menkomarves Jodi Mahardi said that it was precisely Luhut who had been voicing for the price of the expensive COVID-19 health test to be lowered.

"Pak Luhut himself has always voiced that the price of the PCR test can be lowered. So that it becomes more affordable for the public," he told VOI, Wednesday, November 3.

Jodi said Luhut did get an invitation from several business groups to form PT Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI). But Jodi said it was not done for business, let alone making a profit.

According to Jodi, the company was formed to help provide COVID-19 tests. Furthermore, Jodi also explained that the GSI was formed at the beginning of the pandemic when the provision of COVID-19 tests was a big obstacle in Indonesia.

"Regarding GSI, at that time Pak Luhut was invited by friends from the Indika Group, Adaro, Northstar, who had the initiative to help provide COVID-19 tests with a large test capacity. Because this used to be a problem in the early days this pandemic. So in total, if I'm not mistaken, there are nine shareholders there. The Foundation from Indika and Adaro are the majority shareholders in this GSI," said Jodi.