Judge Values Andhi Pramono's Answer Is Strange And Funny, Plants Business Capital But No Bookings

The trial for the examination of the alleged receipt of gratuities by the defendant former Head of the Makassar Customs and Excise Office Andhi Pramono at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Friday (1/3/2024). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Panel of Judges at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) Djuyamto questioned the former Head of the Makassar Customs and Excise Office Andhi Pramono because he was considered to have given an illogical answer in the trial of the examination of the alleged receipt of gratuities at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, today. "It is illogical that an investor who invests in capital does not want to know about his company. Moreover, there is no bookkeeping," said Djuyamto as quoted by Antara, Friday, March 1. Initially, the Public Prosecutor of the Corruption Eradication Commission (JPU KPK) asked Andhi about the results of his business with a private party named Sia Leng Salem. As for several suspicious transactions that went into Andhi's account, he claimed that the transaction was the result of an investment with Sia Leng Salem. However, in the midst of questions from the KPK prosecutor, Judge Djuyamto interrupted because he considered Andhi's many unreasonable answers. "I asked, what is the purpose of investing people?" asked Judge Djuyamto. "To get a noble advantage," replied Andhi. "In order to know that the company is profitable or losing, how do you know?" asked Djuyamto again. "I found out the fortunately when Pak Sia Leng Salem gave me the results of his business," said Andhi. "Good, providing business results. Then the person who invested it did not need to know exactly how much profit the results of his business were?" said Hakim. "Initially it was like that, I once asked Mr. Salem, but Mr. Salem asked me to just believe in him because he was working on the business and I only invested," said Andhi. "I asked, it's not about you believing in Sia Leng Salem, you yourself as an investor so you know the profit, the amount, how do you know?" asked Judge Djuyamto again. "I only trust Sia Leng Salem's brother, sir," Andhi replied. With these answers, Judge Djuyamto considered Andhi's all answers to be very strange and funny, considering Andhi was not an ordinary person who did not understand investment. "It's very strange and funny that you say that," said Djuyamto. Judge Djuyamto then asked Andhi about the story which claimed that the company where Andhi invested had never suffered a loss. "The company has never lost, it's extraordinary, how is the tax? Who takes care of the tax?" asked Djuyamto. Andhi could not answer the question, so the judge again asked the same question. "How is the result you received from this investment the tax?" asked the judge again. "I haven't paid the tax, Your Honor," said Andhi. "The tax is not paid?" asked Djuyamto. "At that time, I didn't have time to think about it, like that, Your Honor," said Andhi. "Why don't you think? It's clear why you're a government person?", said Hakim. "Maybe it's like this, Your Honor, because until 2010 I haven't received it directly from Pak Sia Leng Salem," Andhi replied. Judge Djuyamto immediately cut Andhi's answer by confirming whether the tax from the joint business results of Sia Leng Salem had been paid. After that, Andhi replied that the tax from his investment results had been paid through the tax amnesty program in 2016. "From the start I've told you to be honest as it is, only two questions from me you can't answer correctly," said Judge Djuyamto. Previously, the KPK prosecutor accused Andhi Pramono of receiving gratuities worth a total of IDR 58.9 billion from a number of parties related to the management of import customs, which included IDR 50.29 billion, 264,500 US dollars or equivalent to IDR 3.8 billion, and 409,000 Singapore dollars or equivalent to IDR 4.88 billion.

Andhi was charged with gratification, namely Article 12B of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code. By Agatha Olivia Victoria