KPK Reveals Corruption In Procurement Of Presidential Social Assistance When COVID-19 Is Moded To Reduce Quality

KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardika/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said there was a reduction in the quality of the presidential social assistance (bansos) distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This act then caused state losses.

"The suspect mode, ed) reduces the quality of social assistance," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika to reporters in a written statement, Wednesday, June 26.

Tessa said the state losses caused by the suspect's actions in this case reached hundreds of billions of rupiah. However, this figure could continue to grow because calculations are being carried out.

"Temporary loss of Rp125 billion," said the spokesman with the investigator's background.

Tessa said this case was revealed after reports from the public. The report came when the KPK was in charge of the social assistance (bansos) case that ensnared former Social Minister (Mensos) Juliari Batubara.

"Which was then followed up with an investigation," said Tesa.

Previously reported, the KPK revealed that it was investigating allegations of corruption in the procurement of presidential social assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic which was distributed in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) in 2020.

One of the suspects in this case is Ivo Wongkaren who is the President Director of Mitra Energi Persada. This name was previously convicted in the corruption case of social assistance for the procurement of rice for the Family Hope Program (PKH).

Ivo by the Jakarta Corruption Court was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison. He was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 1 billion, a subsidiary of 12 months in prison.