KPK Suspects Director General Of Social Security Pepen Nazarudin Receives Bansos Money

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

JAKARTA - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators completed the examination of three witnesses in the COVID-19 social assistance procurement (bansos) bribery case in Jabodetabek.

One of the witnesses was Nuzulia Hamzah Nasution, from the private sector. Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Ali Fikri said investigators were under arrest for giving money to the Director General of Social Security Protection (Dirjen Linjamsos) Pepen Nazaruddin.

"Nuzulia Hamzah Nasution, private, was confirmed regarding the alleged gift of money by the AIM suspect to Pepen Nazarudin and other parties at the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs," Ali said in his written statement, Monday, January 25.

It is known that anti-gas commission investigators conducted a search at Pepen's residence on January 13. During the search, the team found documents related to the case.

In addition, the Director General of Social and Social Security has also carried out an examination as a witness in the bribery case for the provision of social assistance.

Not only Nuzulia, but the KPK also investigated another witness, namely Victorius Saut HS, who is a civil servant regarding the budget proposal process and technical assistance for social assistance procurement in Jabodetabek.

Not only that, but the Corruption Eradication Commission also investigated private parties from PT Agri Tekh Lucky Falian regarding documentary evidence that is suspected of being related to this case.

Previously, the KPK named a number of suspects in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) food packages for the handling of 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 began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi to carry out this project by directly appointing partners. The KPK suspects that it was agreed that there was a fee from the work package that partners had to pay to the Ministry of Social Affairs.

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 alias PT RPI which allegedly belonged to Matheus and whose appointment was known to Juliari.

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 which was then used to meet personal needs.

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. Rp. 14.5 billion was kept in a number of suitcases and bags and consisted of rupiah denominations and foreign currency.