KKP Inspector General Muhammad Yusuf Called Rp. 53.2 Billion In Bank Guarantee Does Not Break The Law

Appearance of confiscated money by the KPK from the Edhy Prabowo case (Photo: PR KPK)

JAKARTA - After being questioned by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Muhammad Yusuf, said that the Rp53.2 billion in cash confiscated from the Bank Guarantee was not related to the alleged bribery for export of lobster fry or lobster seeds.

In addition, he also said that the money suspected by the KPK was related to fry bribery did not violate the law. "Nothing has been violated," Yusuf told reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, South Jakarta, Wednesday, March 17.

He explained the origin of the money confiscated by the KPK. The money is there because initially there was a ban on catching lobster seeds before the issuance of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 12 of 2020 concerning Lobster Management.

According to him, the regulation on the prohibition of catching lobster seeds issued by the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Maritime Affairs Susi Pudjiastuti strangled lobster fishermen. Not only that, Yusuf also said, lobster supplies are also abundant in the oceans.

"The sea is abundant, then the survey rate is only 0.01 percent. If it is not caught, it will not be taken, it will be redundant. He will die," he said.

Seeing this condition, the KKP cannot leave the abundant lobster seeds untapped. In addition, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, fishermen also need to earn a living so that the ministry makes regulations on the export of lobster seeds.

"The assumption then is that we also provide a minimum price, at least for exporters to buy rather than fishermen," he said.

This is what underlies the CTF to charge Rp. 5,000 for one sand type lobster seed. Then, Rp. 10,000 for the type of nickel lobster seed.

With this regulation, fry exporters can finally sell to Vietnam with these regulations. However, when this is done, the state does not get any benefits.

Thus, the KKP asked the Ministry of Finance to make a regulation that helps Permen No.12 of 2020. The regulations issued are related to the special costs for exporting lobster seeds.

"By the Ministry (Finance, red) it is combined into PNBP (non-tax state revenue)," explained Yusuf.

However, the regulation regarding PNPB for lobster seed export has not been issued. Because, the government prioritizes the rules regarding the Job Creation Law.

KKP, continued Yusuf, also has not received any benefits. It's just that, exporters make a promise to provide a guarantee and this is what makes the Bank Guarantee a guarantee.

Furthermore, he then claimed that the KKP had not used the money in the Bank Guarantee. The reason was, at that time, the KPK immediately arrested Edhy Prabowo and his men after a trip from Hawaii, United States.

"Please understand that the Bank Guarantee is not the right of the KKP. It is not the right of anyone either. There is still an open right to the Bank Guarantee. That's the story," he said.

It was reported earlier that on Monday, March 15, KPK investigators confiscated Rp52.3 billion of money suspected of being a Bank Guarantee.

The anti-corruption commission suspected that at that time Edhy Prabowo as the former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ordered the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Antam Novambar to make a written order.

The KPK said this letter was related to the withdrawal of bank guarantees from exporters to the Head of the Fish Quarantine, Quality Control and Safety of Fishery Products (BKIPM). Furthermore, the Head of BKIPM ordered the Head of the Soekarno Hatta Jakarta Large Quarantine Office to accept the Bank Guarantee.

It's just that, later it was discovered, the rules for submitting bank guarantees as a form of commitment to the implementation of lobster seed export had never existed.

As for this bribery case, Edhy Prabowo was named a suspect in receiving bribes along with five other people, namely: Stafsus Minister of KKP Safri (SAF) and Andreau Pribadi Misanta (APM); Management of PT Aero Citra Kargo (PT ACK) Siswadi (SWD); The staff of the wife of the Minister of KKP, Ainul Faqih, and Amiril Mukminin (AM).

Meanwhile, the giver of the bribe was the Director of PT Dua Putra Perkasa Pratama (PT DPPP) Suharjito (SJT).

Edhy was named a suspect because he was suspected of accepting bribes from companies that had been issued a lobster seed export license using a forwarder company and were kept in one account up to Rp9.8 billion.

From this money, Edhy then received Rp3.4 billion which was earmarked for his and his wife's needs, Iis Rosyita Dewi, and two of his staff, Safri and Andreau Misanta Pribadi. In addition, around May 2020, Edhy was also suspected of receiving 100 thousand US dollars from Suharjito through Safri and Amiril.

Furthermore, this money is used for shopping for luxury goods by Edhy and his wife in Honolulu, USA on November 21 to 23, 2020, amounting to around IDR 750 million, including Rolex watches, Tumi and LV bags, road bikes, and Old Navy clothes.