Menpora Dito Doesn't Know About Returning Rp27 Billion To The AGO

Menpora Dito Ariotedjo in the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (13/7/2023). (ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo admitted that he did not know about the refund of Rp27 billion by Maqdir Ismail, lawyer for a defendant in the alleged corruption case of BTS Ministry of Communication and Information, to the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

"I don't know anything. We have clarified and the official process. Sayya doesn't know anything about it," said Dito at the Presidential Palace, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

Maqdir Ismail is a lawyer for PT Solitech Media Sinergy Commissioner Irwan Hermawan, who was charged with giving bribes in the alleged corruption case of the BTS4G Kominfo project.

The AGO summoned Maqdir to explain the party that returned the Rp27 billion money related to the handling of the alleged 4G BTS corruption case. Maqdir was also asked to bring Rp27 billion in US dollars received from the private sector in his office on July 4, 2023.

Previously, Maqdir explained that his client, Irwan Hermawan, handed over money to certain parties when the alleged 4G BTS corruption case was under investigation and at that time Irwan had not been named a suspect. The party claimed to be close to a minister and law enforcement officials.

This person, according to Maqdir, claims to be able to help so that the case handled by the AGO does not spread. However, Maqdir did not clearly reveal who the party in question was.

Then, after the project started running, some money was received and Irwan handed over to several people, including ministerial staff.

Based on Irwan's statement in the investigation report, there was a flow of funds to Dito Ariotedjo when he was still the coordinating minister's staff for the economy between November-December 2022, with a total of IDR 27 billion.

In a clarification at the AGO on Monday (3/7), Dito denied receiving any flow of funds. He also stated that he did not know anything about the 4G BTS corruption case which also involved the former minister of communication and informatics (Menkominfo) Johnny G. Plate.

The AGO also denied that the money was related to the alleged corruption case in the construction of 4G BTS, because the legal construction of the 4G BTS project was completed.

However, the AGO opened up opportunities for development into cases of alleged obstruction to justice or obstruction of justice related to the findings of Rp27 billion.

Irwan Hermawan, Commissioner of PT Solitchmedia Synergy, is one of eight suspects in alleged corruption in the provision of Base Tranceiver Station (BTS) infrastructure and supporting infrastructure for Kominfo for the 2020-2022 period.

The eight suspects in the case are suspected of causing financial losses of IDR 8.32 trillion. Six of the eight suspects have the status of defendants who are currently in the process of being proven at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court trial.