Incomplete Case Files, Juliari Batubara's Detention Is Extended

Juliari Batubara (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has extended the detention period of former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

The extension was carried out because investigators had not yet completed the investigation and filing of the COVID-19 social assistance procurement (bansos) bribery case in the Jabodetabek area which dragged its name.

The detention extension for the second time is carried out for the next 30 days according to the decision of the Chairman of the Central Jakarta District Court.

"Today, March 5, 2021, the KPK investigating team has again extended the detention of the detention center for 30 days based on the stipulation of the second Chairman of the Central Jakarta District Court starting March 6 to April 4," said Acting KPK spokesman for the field of prosecution Ali Fikri in a written statement, Friday, 5 March.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also extended the detention period of Adi Wahyono, who was a former commitment-making official (PPK) at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Just like Juliari, Adi's detention was also extended by 30 days.

Meanwhile, Juliari was detained at the KPK Detention Center for the Pomdam Jaya Guntur branch while Adi Wahyono was detained at the South Jakarta Police Detention Center.

Previously reported, 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 Greater Jakarta area, including former Social Minister Juliari Batubara.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) MJS and AW as the recipient of the bribe and AIM and HS as the giver of the bribe.

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.

There is also a fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package agreed by Matheus and Adi of 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 Rp 12 billion was allegedly received. 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.