Bansos Case, KPK Search 2 Locations In Bekasi And Jakarta

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

JAKARTA - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators conducted searches at two different locations regarding the alleged bribery of social assistance (bansos). The case against former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara. This activity was held on Thursday, February 18 yesterday.

"The location of the search is located in two private company offices located in Bekasi, West Java and Jakarta," said Acting KPK spokesman for prosecution Ali Fikri in his written statement, Friday, February 19.

From this search, investigators later secured a number of items that were suspected of being linked to this bribery case.

"The evidence that was secured included various documents and electronic devices related to the case," he explained.

Once secured, the evidence will then be further analyzed and verified for confiscation.

In this case, 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 former 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. Meanwhile, as the giver of bribes, the KPK named AIM and HS as suspects.

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. Rp14.5 billion was kept in a number of suitcases and bags and consisted of rupiah denominations and foreign currency.