Bansos Suspect Alleged Corruption Juliari Batubara: I Will Submit A Resignation Letter

Juliari Batubara (Source: Special)

JAKARTA - Juliari Batubara is officially in the KPK Pomdam Jaya Guntur detention center after undergoing an examination for approximately 15 hours as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of COVID-19 social assistance funds in the Jabodetabek area.

Before leaving the KPK and heading to the detention center, Juliari will follow the process carried out by KPK investigators. When he was about to get into the detention car that picked him up, Juliari gave a signal that he would resign from his position as social minister.

"Yes yes yes, I will write a resignation letter later," he said, at the KPK building, South Jakarta, Sunday, December 6.

But unfortunately, Juliari is reluctant to say in detail when he will resign from the helm of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

As is known, Juliari has been named a KPK suspect in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) for food packages, for the treatment of COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area.

Juliari turned himself in before KPK investigators, on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at around 02.50 WIB, after previously being a fugitive.

In this case, the KPK has named five people as suspects. 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.

KPK Chairman Filri Bahuri said this case began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi in implementing this project by directly appointing partners.

"And it is suspected that it was agreed to set a fee for each work package that partners must deposit to the Ministry of Social Affairs through MJS," said Firli.

As for the fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package that Matheus and Adi agreed to, it was IDR 10,000 from a value of IDR 300 thousand.

Matheus and Adi then made work contracts with several suppliers as partners for providing social assistance in May-November 2020. The partners chosen were AIM, HS, and PT Rajawali Parama Indonesia alias PT RPI which allegedly belonged to MJS.

"The appointment of PT RPI as one of the partners is suspected of being known by JPB and approved by AW," he said.

In the first phase of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of IDR 12 billion is suspected. Matheus gave around Rp. 8.2 billion in cash to Juliari through Adi.

Then, at the second stage of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of around Rp.8.8 billion was collected from October to December 2020. In total, Juliari received around Rp. 17 billion which was then allocated for his personal needs.

As a party suspected of receiving fees, said Firli, JPB was suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or b or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph ( 1) to 1 KUHP.

Meanwhile AW, is suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 and Article 12 letter (i) of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code.