Minister Of Social Affairs Juliari Becomes Suspect Of Covid-19 Social Assistance, Jokowi: I Have Reminded Not To Corruption!

President Joko WIdodo (Photo: Screenshot)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke about the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) for food packages for the treatment of COVID-19 in Jabodetabek, which was carried out by Social Minister Juliari Batubara. He admitted that he had warned his aides not to do this disgraceful act

"I need to say that, I have reminded the Indonesian cabinet ministers from the start not to be corrupt. From the beginning and I have continuously told you to create a system that closes the loopholes for corruption," he said, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Sunday, December 6. .

Closing the loopholes for corruption that Jokowi meant by being careful in using funds from the state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN), as well as the regional revenue and expenditure budget (APBD). Especially with regard to social assistance.

"I repeatedly remind state officials, be it ministers, governors, regents, mayors and all officials to be careful when using money from the district / city, provincial and APBN funds is public money. Moreover, this is related to social assistance in the context of handling COVID-19. and national economic recovery. Social assistance is needed by the people, "he said.

Regarding the case that dragged Social Minister Juliari Batubara, Jokowi said the government respects the ongoing legal process at the KPK.

"Of course we respect the legal process currently underway at the KPK," he said.

As previously reported, there were five suspects in this corruption case. They are Juliari, MJS and AW, as the commitment making officials at the Ministry of Social Affairs, named as suspects for receiving bribes. Then, the suspects AIM and HS as the bribes.

This case began with the procurement of basic food packages as social assistance for handling COVID-19 with a total of 272 contracts worth IDR 5.9 trillion which were implemented over two periods.

The KPK said that the fee for each Bansos package was agreed upon by MJS and AW of IDR 10,000 per food package, of a value of IDR 300 thousand per social assistance package.

Furthermore, by MJS and AW in May to November 2020, work contracts were made with several suppliers as partners, including AIM, HS and also PT RPI (Rajawali Parama Indonesia) which allegedly belonged to MJS.

Regarding the corruption of the COVID-19 social assistance OTT, the KPK then confiscated the money that had been prepared from the bribes, namely AIM and HS in one of the apartments in Jakarta and Bandung. Rp14.5 billion was kept in a number of suitcases and bags.

"Previously, AIM and HS had prepared money in one of the apartments in Jakarta and in Bandung, which was stored in 7 suitcases, 3 backpacks and a small envelope, which amounted to around Rp14.5 billion," said KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri at a press conference in the building. KPK, Sunday, December 6 in the morning.

From the COVID-19 social assistance corruption OTT, money was found in rupiah denominations and foreign currency. "Each is around Rp. 11.9 billion, around USD 171.085 (equivalent to Rp. 2.420 billion) and around SGD 23,000 (equivalent to Rp. 243 million)," said Firli.