KPK Examined Juliari Batubara Bribes Related To Jabodetabek Social Assistance Package

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to investigate the suspected bribery case for the provision of social assistance (bansos) in the Jabodetabek area that ensnared former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

Most recently, the investigation team of the anti-graft commission conducted an examination of Harry Sidabuke, who was also named a suspect in grafting bribes in this case.

He was examined on Monday, December 28th. He was examined as a witness completing the case files for Juliari and the other suspects.

During this examination, Harry was asked a number of questions, including those related to the package of social assistance distribution work in Jabodetabek that he was doing.

"Investigators are still investigating through this witness' statement regarding the work package carried out by the witness to distribute social assistance packages, especially in the Jabodetabek area in 2020," said Acting KPK spokesman for prosecution Ali Fikri in his written statement, Tuesday, December 29.

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 the recipient of the bribe and AIM and HS as the giver of the bribe.

This case started with the provision of social assistance in the form of basic food packages within the Ministry of Social Affairs worth Rp. 5.9 trillion with a total of 272 contracts implemented in two periods.

Then, this PDIP politician appointed Matheus and Adi as PPK. In project implementation, both of them did so by direct appointment of partners. 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 aka PT RPI which allegedly belonged to Matheus.

In this case, the KPK then suspected that Juliari received a fee of IDR 8.2 billion for the implementation of the first period of social assistance package. Meanwhile, in the second implementation, he allegedly received a fee of Rp.8.8 billion which was used for his personal interests.