New Facts In The Case Of Bansos COVID-19 After Case Reconstruction

One scene of the reconstruction of the social assistance fund corruption case handled by the KPK (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is holding a case reconstruction related to the suspected COVID-19 social assistance bribery case in the Jabodetabek area.

The reconstruction, which was carried out openly for the first time, reveals a number of new facts in the case that ensnared former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara, including the involvement of former Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Ihsan Yunus.

In the reconstruction of the case that was held at the KPK building Kavling C1, Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, KPK investigators involved three suspects in this case, namely the Commitment Making Officer (PPK), namely Matheus Joko Santoso, Adi Wahyono, and private party Harry Sidabuke. This activity starts at around 12.10 WIB with 15 scenes.

Through this reconstruction, a number of facts related to the COVID-19 social assistance bribery case were finally revealed. One of them, when Harry Sidabuke, who is a private party, prepared Rp150 million in an acoustic guitar.

This money represents the eighth bribe payment in a case of alleged corruption in procurement and was prepared at Boscha Cafe in August 2020.

In the 13th scene of this reconstruction activity, Harry is known to meet another private party, named Sanjaya, who was previously caught in a silent operation but was not named a suspect.

Furthermore, the two of them met again in the secretariat room on the 5th floor of the Ministry of Social Affairs Building in the same month. There, Harry prepared Rp200 million for the ninth stage of the bribe.

However, in the case reconstruction event, investigators did not specify the recipients of bribes at the eight and nine stages of payment.

Then in the next scene, Harry meets the suspect and the Ministry of Social Affairs' commitment maker (PPK) official Matheus Joko Santoso at Karoke Raia in October 2020. They are said to have spent IDR 50 million to have fun there.

Next, after meeting and having fun with Matheus at a karaoke place, Harry reunites with him on the 5th floor of the Ministry of Social Affairs Building in the same month. When he handed over Rp200 million to Matheus as a tenth bribe payment there.

Prior to the gift, Harry had also handed over money totaling Rp. 780 million during the June to July period. The giving was also carried out on the 5th floor of the Ministry of Social Affairs building.

Through this reconstruction, the KPK is also exploring the participation of former Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Ihsan Yunus. In the first scene of this reconstruction, Ihsan Yunus, played by a stunt double, also held a meeting in the room of the Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA), Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) Syafii Nasution. This meeting took place in February 2020.

Apart from Ihsan, the meeting was also attended by Matheus Joko Santoso as the Ministry of Social Affairs Commitment Making Officer (PPK). Ihsan, who is currently a member of Commission II of the DPR, is described as having a conversation with Joko and M Syafii Nasution.

Not only that, through an intermediary or operator named Agustri Yogasmara alias Yogas, Ihsan is said to have received Rp1.53 billion and two Brompton folding bicycles from the suspect Harry Sidabuke.

Based on the reconstruction, Harry gave money through Yogas in June 2020 around Jalan Salemba Raya. The giving is done in a car. Meanwhile, two Brompton bikes were awarded in November 2020.

After the reconstruction was carried out, Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said this reconstruction was an attempt by investigators to synchronize the series of events and actions of the suspects with evidence and witness testimony in this bribery case. Apart from that, the reconstruction involving the three suspects was also carried out so that the bribery that was carried out became clearer.

For this reason, the KPK did not present former Social Minister (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara. Because, in the bribery case for the provision of social assistance, this PDIP politician is the recipient of the bribe.

"The current reconstruction is focused on clarifying the series of alleged acts of the bribes in the suspect's case on behalf of HS (Harry Sidabuke) and Ardian IM (AIM). So JBP as the suspect who received the bribe was not presented," he told reporters in a written statement on Monday, February 1st.

Furthermore, he also said that the reconstruction in the future could reveal other actors in this bribery case. Moreover, through this activity, the KPK also found the fact that there was a receipt of Rp1.53 billion and two Brompton bicycles from Harry to Yogas as Ihsan Yunus operator.

However, the KPK cannot simply determine that this gift is related to the bribery case. This is because investigators still need to provide further confirmation to the witnesses who are aware of this case.

"In principle, if in the process of investigating this case, at least there is sufficient involvement of other parties, of course the KPK can determine that party as a suspect," said Ali.

Previously reported, the name of the former Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII DPR RI Ihsan Yunus was often associated with the alleged bribery case for social assistance COVID-19 for the Greater Jakarta area which ensnared former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

The KPK even summoned Ihsan Yunus for questioning on Wednesday, January. However, the legislator from PDI Perjuangan did not fulfill the examination on the grounds that he had not received a summons from the investigating team so that it would be rescheduled.

In addition, to investigate his involvement in this case, the KPK also searched the residence of Ihsan Yunus' parents in East Jakarta on Tuesday, January 12. From this search, investigators confiscated communication tools and several documents related to COVID-19 social assistance.

Next, investigators have twice examined businessman Muhammad Rakyan Ikram, who is said to be Ihsan Yunus' younger brother. During the questioning last Friday, January 29, KPK investigators questioned Rakyan regarding the distribution of rations and quotas for the distribution of social assistance for COVID-19 because he was also working on the project.

In the COVID-19 social assistance bribery case, the KPK has named a number of suspects, including the non-active Social Minister Juliari Batubara.

In addition, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) MJS and AW as recipients of bribes and AIM and HS as the givers of bribes.