At The Jakarta Corruption Court, PT SMI Explains The Disbursement Of PEN Loan Disbursement For Regions During A Pandemic

The KPK prosecutor presented 3 witnesses for the defendant, former Director General of Regional Finance at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mochamad Ardian Noervianto, at the Jakarta Corruption Court, today. (Antara/Desca LN)

JAKARTA - Director of Financing and Investment of PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) Sylvi Juniarty Gani explained the disbursement of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) loan funds provided by the government to regions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We from PT SMI are trying our best to help the regions and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and also help the regions to supervise and prepare documents," Sylvi said while testifying at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Thursday, June 23.

Sylvi was a witness for the defendant, former Director General of Regional Finance at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mochamad Ardian Noervianto, who was charged with receiving a bribe of Rp. 1.5 billion from the inactive East Kolaka Regent Andi Merya and and LM Rusdianto Emba to obtain approval for the PEN loan fund for East Kolaka Regency.

"It should be fast, yes, why does it take so long, on average how long does the process take?" asked the judge.

"At SMI, we commit to an assessment for 20 days. However, to get to the disbursement or credit participation agreement it takes time to sign the credit agreement. For that, we need a letter of consideration from the Ministry of Home Affairs," said Sylvi.

The indictment states that Ardian received a bribe in order to give consideration to the Minister of Home Affairs as a condition for the approval of the East Kolaka PEN proposal in 2021.

"For the East Kolaka PEN loan, did it finally come to fruition?" asked the judge.

"It was not followed up based on the conditions in December 2021 because seeing the development of the news circulating and the legal problems that occurred, we decided not to continue the request," added Sylvi.

"Who is the final determinant of whether a loan is granted or not?" asked the judge.

"Always together between the Ministry of Home Affairs, PT SMI, and the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK) of the Ministry of Finance," said Sylvi.

"Consideration from the Minister of Home Affairs, is it a determining condition?" asked the judge.

"As a condition for signing the loan agreement, it must be signed by the Minister of Home Affairs," answered Sylvi.

"Do you know the Minister of Home Affairs' consideration letter on the recommendation from the Director General of Regional Financial Development, defendant Ardian?" asked the judge.

"You know, we have written and asked about the status of the regional government for which there has not been a letter of consideration," answered Sylvi.

In addition to Sylvi, the public prosecutor (JPU) of the KPK also presented the witness of the Head of the Public Financing Division of PT SMI Erdian Dharmaputra. In his statement, Erdian said that there had been an official from Muna Regency who met with Erdian to arrange the PEN loan.

"I've met a person from Muna, his name is Pak Dahlan, he's the Head of Communications and Information, he's asked to meet him several times," said Erdian.

Erdian said that there were indeed a number of district officials who asked to meet with him to get a PEN loan.

"There are many other regional governments, for example from the regional governments of East Kolaka, Bandar Lampung, and others," said Erdian.

Based on the Antara report, in his indictment, Ardian had conveyed to Laode M Syukur Akbar that the application for a PEN loan in East Kolaka Regency would use the same mechanism as Muna Regency. Laode M. Syukur Akbar is the Head of the Muna Regency Environmental Service who is also a friend of Ardian's class at the Domestic Regional Government College (STPDN) as well as Andi Merya's liaison to Ardian.

"Bandar Lampung is liquidated, Muna is also liquid," Erdian added.

According to Erdian, as long as the PEN loan program was disbursed, there were 74 local governments that applied for loans. Of the 37 local governments, 37 local governments have made loan agreements and the funds have been approved.

A total of 36 local governments have not received a letter of consideration from the Minister of Home Affairs and after Ardian no longer serves as the director general of regional finance, 31 local governments have issued a letter of consideration.

"At that time, Mr. Ardian called me about Muna Regency because the Minister of Home Affairs' letter of consideration for Muna was issued for Rp. 500 billion, but the funds that came out for Muna were smaller, which was around Rp. 230 billion. I was lectured because the Minister of Home Affairs had sent a letter of consideration of Rp. 500 billion but it seems Even if the letter is not appreciated, so it is also to protect the dignity of my minister, according to Mr. Ardian," said Erdian.

In the indictment, it was stated that apart from Ardian, Andi Merya and Rusdianto Emba, they also gave bribes to the Head of the Human Resources Development and Personnel Agency of Muna Sukarman Loke worth Rp. Thus, the total bribes for the three people amounted to IDR 2.405 billion.