Juliari's Men Under Investigation Regarding Rp.14.5 Billion Confiscated During The KPK OTT

Evidence of money confiscated from the COVID-19 social assistance corruption OTT. Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara is a suspect in this case (KPK Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is examining a policymaker (PPK) who is a suspect in the case of receiving bribes for social assistance COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area, Matheus Joko Santoso (MJS).

Acting KPK spokesperson for prosecution Ali Fikri said that Matheus was investigated regarding the money confiscated during the arrest operation (OTT) some time ago.

"Investigations related to the confiscation of a number of evidence found during the KPK's arrest included money totaling around Rp. 14.5 billion," Ali said in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, December 15.

He said the confiscation had obtained permission from the KPK Supervisory Board.

"Furthermore, the proof of money referred to will be evidence in this case," he said.

It is known that the KPK has named a number of suspects in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) packages for food packages for COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area including the non-active Social Minister Juliari Batubara.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) MJS and AW as recipients of bribes and AIM and HS as the givers of bribes.

KPK Chairman Filri Bahuri said this case began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi to carry out 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.

There is also a fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package agreed by Matheus and Adi of 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 aka PT RPI which allegedly belonged to Matheus.

"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.

In this silent operation, the KPK also confiscated evidence in the form of 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 and consisted of rupiah denominations and foreign currency.

"Each of them 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.