TNI Still Investigating Retired Involvement In Ministry Of Defense Satellite Corruption Case

TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Military Police Center (Puspom) of the TNI is still investigating the involvement of three retired TNI soldiers suspected of being involved in corruption cases in the procurement and lease of the satellite orbit slot 123º east longitude of the Ministry of Defense in 2015–2021.

"Paklima's permission to report the progress of the satellite case. Yesterday, our team of investigators (TNI) asked us to coordinate (with the Indonesian Attorney General's Office), the second meeting," said Commander of the Puspom TNI Rear Admiral Nazali Lempo to TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa as broadcast on the Panglima's YouTube channel. reported by Antara, Thursday, April 7th.

He conveyed that a joint or joint investigation team had been formed to investigate the case.

The connectivity investigation team, formed by the Attorney General's Office and the TNI last month, consists of 45 investigators from the Deputy Attorney General for Military Crimes (Jampidmil), Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Puspom TNI, and the Military Oditurat.

“The team has been formed, the sprin (warrant, ed.) from the Attorney General's Office has been completed. We have carried out investigations from civilians, only those from the TNI need to investigate this alleged involvement," said Nazali.

After hearing the report from Danpuspom TNI, the Commander in Chief ordered his staff to continue to investigate the satellite corruption case to completion.

"It's good, continue," said General Andika to his staff.

Allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Defense satellites began to be highlighted after the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD together with the Attorney General ST Burhanuddin in January 2022 announced the case to the public.

Mahfud when giving a statement to the media said that state losses were predicted to reach more than IDR 515 billion.

The Prosecutor's Office and the TNI's legal team continued to conduct case studies, and February 14, 2022 announced the results, including the alleged involvement of civilian and TNI elements in the case.

The Prosecutor's Office then proceeded to summon and examine three retired TNI soldiers, namely Admiral TNI (Ret.) AP (former Director General of Defense Forces of the Ministry of Defense), Rear Admiral of TNI (Ret.) L (former Head of Defense Facilities Agency of the Ministry of Defense), and First Admiral of TNI (Ret.) L. (former Head of the Center for Procurement of the Defense Facilities Agency of the Ministry of Defense).