KPK Examines Fadel Muhammad About Alleged Corruption Of The Ministry Of Health's COVID-19 PPE

Fadel Muhammad Al-Haddar left the KPK's Red and White Building after undergoing examination by the KPK investigating team on Monday (25/3/2024). ANTARA/Fianda Sjofjan Rassat

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said Fadel Muhammad Al-Haddar today underwent examination as a witness in the alleged corruption case in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the Ministry of Health in 2020.

"Fadel Muhammad Al-Haddar (Deputy Chairperson of the MPR RI), witnesses were present and confirmed, among other things, related to the collection of payment shortages on behalf of one of the private parties who participated in the procurement of PPE at the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The collection to the procurement committee is in question," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri when confirmed, Monday, March 25, was confiscated by Antara.

On a separate occasion, Fadel said he was summoned by the KPK because he had been asked for help by HIPMI (Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association) to confirm the lack of payment for PPE procurement projects.

"This HIPMI came to me, when it was 4 years ago, 2020. There was a problem with COVID-19 at that time. They supplied PPE procurement, then they were already supplying, there was a problem that had not been paid. So there was a certain amount of money that had not been paid from their contracts," said Fadel after being questioned by the KPK at the KPK's Red and White Building, South Jakarta, Monday, April 25.

Fadel kemudian menemui kepala Badan Pengawasan Keuangan dan Pembangunan (BPKP) saat ini untuk mengonfirmasi soal kekurangan pembayaran tersebut.

"After I checked, they told me, it turned out that there was a problem with the BPKP audit. So I went to BPKP, asked the head of BPKP. It turned out that the head of BPKP said that 'yes, there was a problem with the procurement because of the price and so on. Mr. Fadel, don't help them'. So I went back home, two days later I called them I explained that 'the head of BPKP said not because there was a problem related to mark-ups prices and so on," he said.

Fadel then said that he no longer participated in this matter after receiving an explanation from BPKP.

A number of witnesses have also been examined by the KPK regarding the case, including the Head of the Hajj Health Center of the Ministry of Health Budi Badya. The person concerned is examined in his capacity as a Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the Health Crisis Center at the Ministry of Health in 2020.

Then former secretary general of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Oscar Primadi and member of Commission VI DPR Gde Sumarjaya Linggih.

Previously, on November 9, 2023, the KPK announced that it had started an investigation into the alleged corruption case in the procurement of PPE at the Ministry of Health.

Information about the investigation was confirmed by KPK Deputy Chairman Alexander Marwata at a press conference at the KPK's Red and White Building, South Jakarta.

"The procurement of PPE is there a suspect? Yes, it already exists. We have also signed the Sprindik (investigation warrant)," said Alex at the time.

The corruption case allegedly occurred in the PPE procurement project at the Ministry of Health's Crisis Center in 2020.

When announcing the start of the investigation, Alex had not announced who the parties had been named as suspects. The value of the PPE procurement project at the Ministry of Health reached Rp3.03 trillion for 5 million PPE sets.

The KPK regrets that the government's large disbursement of funds for the protection of public safety and health when facing the COVID-19 pandemic has been misused through corrupt practices.