The Attorney General's Office Examines PT Meraseti Transportation Officials Regarding Steel Imports

Officers of the Attorney General's Office accompanying suspects in cases of alleged criminal acts of corruption in the import of iron or steel in 2016-2021, with the initials T (Via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Investigators of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the Attorney General's Office examined the Commissioner and Director of PT Meraseti Transport Indonesia as witnesses in the investigation into the alleged corruption case of iron or steel imports for the 2016-2021 period.

"DHA as Commissioner of PT Meraseti Transport Indonesia was investigated regarding the delivery of goods to a service user company PT Meraseti Logistik Indonesia," said the Head of the Legal Information Center (Kapuspenkum) at the AGO Ketut Sumedana in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, June 2.

In addition to DHA, investigators examined two directors of PT Meraseti Transport, namely the initials RN and RR. Ketut said that RN as the Director of PT Meraseti Transport Indonesia was investigated regarding the legality of the Meraseti company because he was in the Legal Department of the Meraseti Group.

"RR as Director of PT Meraseti Transport Indonesia was investigated regarding the loading and unloading of the Meraseti company," said Ketut.

Another witness being questioned today, namely the Administrative staff of the Directorate of Foreign Trade (Daglu) of the Ministry of Trade, has the initials W.

"W was examined in relation to the correspondence at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade," he said.

In this case, investigators have named PT Meraseti Logistik Indonesia Manager Taufiq as a suspect.

Previously, investigators had appointed Tahan Banurea (37) as the Young Import Trade Analyst at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (Dirjen Daglu) of the Ministry of Trade on Thursday (19/5).

Investigators suspect 6 corporations, namely PT BES, PT DSS, PT IB, PT JAK, PT PAS, and PT PMU.

Cases of alleged criminal acts occurred between 2016 and 2021. There were six companies importing iron or steel, guide steel, and their derivative products using an explanation letter (sujel) or import agreements without PI and LS issued by the Directorate of Imports of the Ministry of Trade.

The Sujel was issued on the basis of an importer's request on the grounds that it was used to procure construction materials for road and bridge construction projects on the pretext of having a cooperation agreement with four state-owned enterprises.

The four SOEs whose names are mentioned are PT Waskita Karya, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Nindya Karya, and PT Pertamina Gas (Pertagas).

After clarification, the four SOEs apparently never cooperated in procuring project materials, either in the form of iron or steel, with the six importers.

It is suspected that the six importers imported alloy steel using Sujel I on May 26, 2020 with the excuse that it was for the purposes of road and bridge construction projects, whereas in reality the road and bridge projects in question had been completed in 2018.