Had Reported Erick Thohir-Luhut, PRIMA Returned To KPK Bringing Additional Evidence In The Form Of Individual PCR Test Receipts

Deputy Chairperson of the PRIMA Party Alif Kamal at the KPK (Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The People's Fair and Prosperous Party (PRIMA) returned to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Tuesday, January 11. Their arrival was aimed at submitting additional evidence related to the alleged business of procuring COVID-19 test kits using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.

The additional evidence is in the form of receipts belonging to individuals who have carried out the test. Deputy Chairman of the PRIMA Party, Alif Kamal, said that the evidence should be able to prove the alleged existence of the PCR procurement business.

Moreover, from the receipt, it can be proven that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should have proven the discrepancy in the price of the test.

"(We brought, ed) a letter of purchase from the public who bought the PCR," Kamal told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, January 11.

In addition, PRIMA also claimed to have brought a government circular regarding PCR pricing. The circular that he brought was asked to be used as a benchmark for the price of PCR which should be circulated among the public.

However, after meeting with the KPK, PRIMA admitted that they were disappointed. A member of the PRIMA Central Representative Council (DPP) legal team, Mangapul Silalahi, said the KPK was confused by the evidence it brought.

In fact, Mangapul assessed that the evidence in the form of test receipts belonging to individuals could be the start of the search for alleged fraudulent practices. In addition, the KPK should have received news that mentions the involvement of officials in the alleged PCR business.

"This is a very clear case. The statement from the Chairman of the KPK some time ago, this is actually easy to do (the search, ed)," said Mangapul.

In addition, there is also disappointment because PRIMA considers the KPK instead to ask for evidence that is impossible for the general public to access.

"We asked what else needed to be done, they asked 'is there any information from ministry officials regarding the determination of all kinds of things', you know who the public can access like that," said Mangapul.

"Is there any reports that the reporter has access or a network in these two ministries, how to determine the tariff," he added. As previously reported, PRIMA has reported the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marinves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir to the KPK some time ago. This report relates to the alleged PCR test business.

Meanwhile, regarding this report, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri admitted that he would not indiscriminately investigate allegations of corruption originating from public reports, including the PCR test business. He ensured that all allegations of corruption would be thoroughly investigated if it became the authority of the anti-corruption commission.

"KPK will never tire of eradicating corruption. Whoever the perpetrators are, we will take strict action according to legal provisions," Firli said some time ago via his Twitter account @firlibahuri.

He asked the community to be patient because his subordinates are currently working. "KPK will not indiscriminately. KPK works professionally according to the adequacy of evidence," he said.