Jokowi Appoints Muhadjir Effendy As Ad Interim Minister Of Social Affairs To Replace Juliari

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy as Minister of Social Affairs Ad Interim, replacing Juliari Batubara. This follows the status of Juliari as a suspect at the KPK.

As is known, the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara was involved in the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) for food packages, for the treatment of COVID-19 in Jabodetabek.

"For the time being I will appoint the Coordinating Minister for the Ministry of Social Affairs to carry out the duties of the Minister of Social Affairs," quoted from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Sunday, December 6.

Regarding the case that dragged Juliari Batubara, Jokowi respected the current legal process at the KPK. He believes that the anti-rasuah institution will work professionally in handling cases of suspected corruption in social assistance (bansos) of food packages to treat COVID-19 in Jabodetabek.

"We all believe that the KPK works in a transparent, open manner, works well, professionally and the government will continue to consistently support efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption," he said.

For your information, Juliari is the second minister in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet to be involved in a corruption case. A week earlier, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo was arrested by the KPK in a corruption case for lobster seed export permits.

There are five suspects in the case of alleged bribery for the distribution of COVID-19 social assistance. 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.