The Involvement Of PT Loco Montrado In The Corruption Case Of PT Antam CONTINUES To Be Pursued By The KPK

Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed the involvement of the Director of PT Loco Montrado, Siman Bahar. His victory in pretrial does not mean that he is free from legal snares in the corruption case of PT Antam Tbk's metal anode management cooperation.

"Of course it will be followed up later. The material for the investigation is certainly not canceled on the pretrial decision," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters, Wednesday, February 1.

Ali explained that the formal requirements to ensnare the private sector will continue to be completed. The KPK wants him to be accountable for his actions.

"It only needs to improve the formal requirements for the investigation process," said Ali.

For information, Siman Bahar was previously a suspect in alleged corruption related to the cooperation in managing metal anodes between PT Antam Tbk and PT Loco Montrado in 2017. However, the pretrial he submitted at the South Jakarta District Court against the KPK was granted by the panel of judges.

Against this decision, the KPK seeks to open a re-investigation of Siman Bahar. KPK Deputy for Enforcement Karyoto said that the revocation of the suspect's status did not mean that the legal process would stop.

Karyoto emphasized that Siman's strong evidence of involvement had been pocketed. Therefore, the KPK believes it can ensnare him.

Previously, the KPK detained General Manager of the Metal Management and Purification Business Unit, PT Antam Tbk Dodi Marbeli. The detention was carried out because he was a suspect in alleged corruption in the metal anode management cooperation between PT Antam Tbk and PT Loco Montrado in 2017.

In this case, Dodi allegedly did not use the services of the company that had signed the agreement. The decision was taken unilaterally during the cooperation.

He prefers to cooperate with PT Loco Montrado. Dodi did not even report the election to the directors of the state-owned company.

In fact, in the appointment of the private company there were a number of irregularities. First, the company has no the same experience or technical ability as PT Antam Tbk in managing metal anodes.

Furthermore, the private company does not have international certification issued by the association of precious metal traders, namely the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).

Finally, the contract was also made with a date pushed back and PT Loco Montrado allegedly exporting metal anodes with banned low gold levels.

As a result of Dodi's actions, the state is said to have lost up to Rp100.7 billion. This amount is obtained from the calculation of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).