AGO: US$1.8 Million From Irwan Hermawan Is Not Necessarily Reduced Sentences

The lawyer for the defendant BTS) Kominfo Irwan Hermawan, Maqdir Ismail (left) and his team walked into the room at the Attorney General's Office, Jakarta, Thursday (13/7/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Rivan Awal Lingga/hp.

JAKARTA - Director of Investigators at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Dirdik Jampidsus) at the Attorney General's Office, Kuntadi, said that the handover of US$1.8 million or equivalent to Rp27 billion from lawyer Irwan Hermawan, the defendant in corruption in the 4G Kominfo BTS project has not been clear about his status, so it is not necessarily possible to reduce the criminal penalty.

"Can the money reduce Irwan's sentence? Not necessarily, because the money is not yet clear," Kuntadi said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

Kuntadi said that his party had received the handover of money worth 1.8 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp27 billion (Rp15 thousand rupiah exchange rate) from Maqdir Ismail, lawyer Irwan Hermawan, Commissioner of PT Solitchmedia Synergy who is now a defendant in a corruption case in providing 4G transceiver station (BTS) infrastructure and supporting infrastructure for packages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 BAKTI of the Ministry of Communication and Information in 2020 until 2022.

The money was brought directly by Maqdir Ismail during an examination at the Attorney General's Round Building this morning at 10.10 WIB.

According to Kuntadi, the money is not yet clear about the legal status, whether the proceeds of the crime, or related to crime, or whether the personal money used to return state losses, or money that has nothing to do with the case.

After receiving the money, investigators investigated the origin of the money to determine its legal status. Investigators also conducted a search at Maqdir Ismail's attorney's office in the South Jakarta area. "What is clear is that we have temporarily secured the money in our office, and for the next time we will determine its status," said Kuntadi.

Kuntadi explained, to make the money a return to state losses which could ease the sentence of the defendant, there were conditions that had to be met.

Meanwhile, the money handed over by Irwan Hermawan's attorney is not yet clear about his legal status.

"We can't just accept money and then we relate it to a criminal incident. If there is an incident, which incident? We also have to sit on it," said Kuntadi.

"Therefore, we are conducting an in-depth investigation and let's wait for the results of the investigation," he added.

Meanwhile, Maqdir Ismail, was met after the examination and handover of USD 1.8 million said the money was for the benefit of his client, Irwan Hermawan.

The senior lawyer said that there was someone who he did not name him with good intentions to help his client in returning the money he had received in the 4G Kominfo BTS project.

His client, said Maqdir, was stated in the indictment of receiving Rp119 billion. And the US$1.8 million was handed over in order to return the Rp119 billion that his client received.

According to Maqdir, his client has twice handed over the refund to the Attorney General's Office, the first of which is Rp. 8 billion and today is Rp. 27 billion.

"Because Irwan was charged with receiving a sum of money, namely Rp. 119 billion, while what we have submitted has only been Rp. 8 billion plus Rp. 27 billion. So we hope this will reduce Irwan's burden. So if there are friends who want to donate to Irwan, we will accept it and hand it over to the AGO," said Maqdir.