Development Of The COVID-19 Social Assistance Case In Jabodetabek Is Still Under Investigation, KPK Focuses On Finding State Losses

KPK Building (VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed that it was still investigating other corruption allegations related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in Greater Jakarta which previously ensnared former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said that the KPK is currently looking for state losses resulting from the bribery case.

"Until now, the investigation of the social assistance case is still ongoing," said Ali to reporters, Friday, November 12.

Meanwhile, for the social assistance bribery case in Jabodetabek, the KPK considers it finished. Moreover, Ali said, the parties involved in the case are currently serving the sentence that has been decided by the Jakarta Corruption Court.

"The bribery has been completed but is there a possibility of loss to the state? That is being studied," he said.

"Currently we are in the process of investigating to ensure Article 2 and Article 3 are fulfilled," Ali added.

Previously reported, KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata said that his party was indeed developing a bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance in Greater Jakarta which ensnared Juliari and a number of his subordinates.

This development, he continued, was also carried out because his party received a lot of information from the public about the value of the food packages being distributed that did not match the profits. This was then explored by cooperating with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

"Well, of course it is investigated and we are also cooperating with BPKP to audit the investigation for the distribution of the social assistance," said Alexander.

As a reminder, this social assistance bribery case was revealed after the KPK carried out a hand arrest operation (OTT) at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). Furthermore, from the operation, former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara was named a suspect.

In this case, Juliari was sentenced to 12 years in prison for being proven to have accepted bribes related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance in the Jabodetabek area in 2020 of up to Rp. 14.7 billion.

Apart from Juliari, two of Juliari's former subordinates, namely the former Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso are also involved in this case. Adi was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in prison while Matheus was sentenced to 9 years in prison.