KPK Checks 5 Witnesses Regarding Corruption Case In The Procurement Of High Resolution Satellite Imagery

Acting Spokesperson for the Corruption Eradication Committee Ali Fikri (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned five witnesses in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of High Resolution Satellite Imagery (CSRT) at the Information and Geospatial Agency (BIG) and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) in 2015.

The five witnesses summoned were Henny Sulistyawati, Head of the Technical Services and Promotion Division of the LAPAN Pusfaktegan 2015; Director of PT Bhumi Prasaja, Rasjid A Aladdin; and Head of Pustekdata LAPAN Ayom Widipaminto.

Furthermore, the Chairperson of the 2015 BIG Visual Earth Mapping Center (PPRT) Image Working Group, Elyta Widyaningrum; and BIG Youth Mapping Surveyor Functional 2015, Agung Indrajit.

"The five witnesses will be examined for the PRK suspect (Priyadi Kardono)," said Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri in his written statement, Thursday, January 21.

Previously reported, the KPK named two suspects, namely the former Head of BIG 2014-2016 Priyadi Kardono and former Head of the 2013-2015 LAPAN Aerospace Technology Utilization Center Muchamad Muchlis in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of High Resolution Satellite Imagery (CSRT). They caused state losses of Rp. 179.1 billion.

This case started in 2015, when BIG collaborated with LAPAN in the procurement of CSRT. Since the beginning of the procurement planning and budgeting process, Priyadi and Muchlis are suspected of having agreed to fabricate projects that are against the rules for procurement of goods and services set by the Government.

The two of them have held several meetings with certain parties and potential partner companies who have been determined to accept the project, namely PT Ametis Indogeo Prakarsa and PT Bhumi Prasaja, before discussing the preparation of CSRT procurement.

On the orders of the two suspects, the preparation of various Terms of Reference (TOR) documents as the basis for implementing CSRT directly involved PT Ametis Indogeo Prakarsa and PT Bhumi Prasaja in order to "lock in" the specifications of the CSRT equipment.

"For the payment process to partners, the suspects are also suspected of ordering their staff to pay each term without the administrative documents for the handover and the Quality Control (QC) process," said Lili.

The two suspects were suspected of having committed crimes against Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 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) 1 KUHP.