Expert Staff Of Unloading Custody Of Rp. 500 Million From Juliari To The Chairman Of The PDIP DPC Kendal Akhmat Suyuti

Juliari Batubara (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara's former expert staff in the field of communication, Kukuh Ariwibowo, said that an envelope containing Rp500 million was entrusted to hand over to Akhmat Suyuti, Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPC) PDIP Kendal, Central Java.

This admission was conveyed by Kukuh when testifying in the case of the alleged bribery of the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) project with the defendants Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja and Harry van Sidabukke.

Initially, the KPK public prosecutor (JPU) questioned whether there was a deposit from Adi Wahyono. But Kukuh said there was no such deposit

"Has the witness ever received a deposit from Mr. Adi Wahyono to convey it to Pak Akhmat Suyuti?" asked the prosecutor during a trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Monday, March 15.

"No," answered Kukuh.

The prosecutor again touched on the matter of entrusted by another party. Kukuh then guaranteed it and said that the deposit was from Juliari Peter Batubara which was intended for Akhmat Suyuti.

"As far as I know, I'm sorry, it's from Mr. Juliari Batubara," said Kukuh.

Kukuh said that Juliari gave the deposit two weeks before leaving for Semarang, Central Java.

At that time he was called Juliari with a message that there would be a deposit for Akhmat Suyuti. The day before leaving for Semarang, Kukuh admitted that he was asked to go to Juliari's private house located in Cempaka Mas, Jakarta.

"What are you taking?" asked the prosecutor.

"Envelopes. The envelopes are white, thin, given a folder," said Kukuh.

Kukuh gave the deposit at the Grand Candi Hotel, Semarang, directly to Akhmat Suyuti. He also mentioned in his mind that the envelope contained money.

"When receiving the envelope from the minister, what did the witness have in mind?" asked the prosecutor.

"It's money," answered Kukuh.

Based on the prosecutor's question, the money amounted to Rp. 500 million but in US dollars. However, when asked for details, Kukuh said that he did not know the purpose of the money.