The Ministry Of Defense Ensures That The News About The Bribery Purchase Of Mirage 2000-5 Bekas From Qatar Hoaks

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Defense M. Herindra (left two) provided clarification and official information regarding the issue of alleged corruption in the purchase of a former Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft from Qatar/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Defense explained that the news about bribery in the purchase of the former Qatar Air Force 2000-5 Mirage fighter aircraft was fake news or hoaxes. This is because the purchase of this defense equipment has been canceled. Deputy Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) M. Herindra confirmed that the cancellation of the purchase of 12 units of Mirage 2000-5 was due to fiscal or budget constraints. "The plan to purchase Mirage 2000-5 has not occurred due to limited fiscal space," he said during a press conference at the Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Antara, Monday, February 12. However, Herindra guaranteed that the Ministry of Defense would still try to find the best fighter aircraft to strengthen Indonesia's air defenses. "One of them is the Rafale Dassault fighter from France which will soon be coming gradually to Indonesia. This fighter aircraft will be part of strengthening Indonesia's air defense system," said Herindra. At the same press conference, Spokesperson for the Minister of Defense Dahnil Ahzar Simanjuntak explained the chronology of the cancellation of the purchase of 12 units of Mirage 2000-5 from Qatar. The Indonesian government through the Indonesian Ministry of Defense on January 31, 2023 signed a sale and purchase contract of 12 units of Mirage 2000-5 along with supporting devices with the Qatari Government. The sale and purchase contract was recorded as number TRAK/181/PLN/I/2023/AU. The purchase value at that time reached 733 million Euros or equivalent to Rp11.83 trillion. However, the sale and purchase contract was not effective or canceled because the Indonesian government did not pay a certain amount of money as a condition for purchases. "Because there was a fiscal limitation earlier, we didn't have the ability to (pay, ed). In the end, the contract was not effective because the conditions were not fulfilled. So, it is impossible to bribe because there is no transaction," Dahnil said in response to reporters' questions. Dahnil also emphasized that the Indonesian government did not spend a penny during the purchase process, which was canceled by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. Even though it was canceled, the spokesman for the Minister of Defense emphasized that Indonesia would not be subject to any sanctions or penalties because in the sale and purchase contract no clauses were violated. Dahnil said the purchase contract for 12 units of Mirage 2000-5 was canceled around mid-2023. "Half of 2023 has been canceled," said Dahnil. In recent days, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto have been rumored to be involved in bribery in the purchase of a former Mirage 2000-5 fighter from Qatar. Defense Minister Prabowo is also said to have colluded with Greek politician who is also a member of the European Parliament Eva Kaili. Eva is currently still facing a corruption scandal involving several officials from Qatar. The case became known as "Qatargate".

During the press conference, Dahnil also emphasized that Defense Minister Prabowo, the Ministry of Defense, and the Indonesian government did not know Eva, let alone communicate with her. "I don't know who he is," Dahnil said when asked about the possibility of having communicated with Eva during the purchase of defense equipment.