Mahfud MD Confirms Johnny G Plate's Case Is Not Related To The 2024 Election

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs as well as Plt. The Minister of Communication and Information Mahfud MD gave a statement after meeting President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (2/2/5/2023). (ANTARA/Indra Arief Pribadi)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that the determination of Johnny Gerard Plate as a suspect in a case of alleged corruption is a legal process and is not related to politics ahead of the 2024 General Election.

"This investigation has started in June 2022 because March has asked for an extension, it has been extended until April, not really, reviewed in May kokeng really. June, then an investigation began and now the legal process is ongoing. So, it has nothing to do with elections, with presidential candidates or anything else," MahfudMD said after meeting President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

JohnnyG.Plate was named by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) when he served as Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) for the 2019-2023 period.

MahhudMD emphasized that there was no element of politicization in the investigation of the alleged corruption case which allegedly cost the state up to Rp8 trillion. JohnnyG. Plates was the secretary general of the NasDem Party DPP and now the position has been replaced by Acting Secretary General Hermawi Taslim.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with politicization. It is a matter of state money and there is a law, and the Attorney General's Office also wants and we have encouraged this to be resolved as a matter of law solely," said Mahfud.

President Jokowi has also appointed MahfudMD to be the Acting Minister of Communication and Information as stated in Presidential Decree Number 41/P of 2023 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of Acting Tasks, Authority, and Responsibility of the Minister of Communication and Information of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period.

Dalam pertemuan dengan Jokowi, Mahfud melaporkan terkait proyek BTS di Kemkominfo yang sudah direncanakan dan berlangsung sejak 2006. Sejak tahun tersebut hingga 2019, proyek tersebut berjalan lancar dan baik.

However, said Mahfud, problems arose in the 2020-2021 budget year with the procurement of the BTS project worth IDR 28 trillion.

"In December, when the report had to be submitted and the use of the funds had to be accounted for, it turned out that until December 2021 the goods were not there, the BTS, the power-power was not there," explained Mahfud.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued, budget users asked for an extension of time, even though the BTS budget had been disbursed in 2020-2021.

"It shouldn't be legal, but given an extension of March 21 for that," he added.

After being given an extension of time, continued Mahfud, budget users reported that there were 1,100 towers or towers that were realized from the target of 4,200 towers.

Then an inspection was carried out by the satellite and the results were 958 towers. However, of the 958 towers, it is not known whether they can be used or not.

"From the 958 powers, it is not known whether it can be used or not because eight samples have been taken and none of them functioned according to specifications; but it was assumed first that it was true and that the value was only around Rp. 2.1 trillion.

"Therefore, there is still misuse of funds or unclear funds that are not accounted for," said Mahfud MD.

The AGO has named six suspects in the case, namely Anang Achmad Latif (AAL) as President Director of BAKTI Kemenkominfo, Gahole Menak (GMS) as President Director of PT Mora Telematika Indonesia, Yohan Suryanto (YS) as a Human Development (HUDEV) expert at the University of Indonesia in 2020, Mukti Ali (MA) a suspect from PT Huwaei Technology Investment, Irwan Hermawan (IH) as Commissioner of PT Solitchmedia Synergy, and Johnny G. Plate.