Corruption Of COVID-19 Social Assistance Was Distributed By President Terendus KPK After Arresting Juliari Batubara's Hand

Illustration of corruption (ANTARA)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the president's social assistance (bansos) corruption distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic was detected after arresting former Social Minister (Mensos) Juliari Batubara.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika when asked about the alleged corruption that occurred in 2020. At that time, investigators found evidence of other fraudulent practices when investigating the Juliari case.

"So the suspicion begins, ed) from public reports during the 2020 Ministry of Social's OTT," Tessa told reporters in a written statement quoted on Thursday, June 27.

Tessa said the findings were then followed up. "With (conducted, red) investigation," said the spokesman with the investigator's background.

He said the alleged corruption was different from the previous one. He said, the focus of the current anti-corruption commission is more about the procurement.

As for this case, the KPK has only named one suspect, namely Ivo Wongkaren. The mode used is to reduce the quality of the goods provided.

"(The method, red) reduces the quality of social assistance," said Tessa.

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.