JAKARTA - The attorney for former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara, Maqdir Ismail, denied that his client had provided directions regarding the suspected COVID-19 social assistance corruption case.
According to Maqdir, the statements of witnesses Matheus Joko Santoso (MJS) and Adi Wahyono (AW) regarding the direction from the minister seemed to deliberately build a misleading narrative. Because as if the former JPB minister was the main actor and played alone in the corruption case.
"The impression that AW and MJS want to give is that they are taking the act of accepting gifts or promises for carrying out the orders of the Minister. As far as I know, there is no direction from the Minister to receive gifts and promises, but directions from the Minister for both of them to carry out their duties properly according to the rules. , "said Maqdir, Thursday, March 18.
Maqdir considered that the statements of the two witnesses strongly suspected that they wanted to escape from the legal responsibility that had ensnared him. "According to my opinion, the statement of the Minister's briefing was intentionally conveyed as an alibi so that they would not be punished or if they were sentenced to receive a light sentence," said Maqdir.
According to Maqdir, the matter of the Minister's direction should not be questioned or conveyed in the cases of the defendants Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja (AIM) and Harry Van Sidabukke (HVS). Because the case with AIM and HVS is because they gave gifts or promises to AW and MJS.
What needs to be known, AW as the Proxy of Budget User (KPA) for the 2020 Ministry of Social Affairs Headquarters Work Unit and Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for the Procurement of Goods / Services for Social Assistance for Food in the Context of Handling Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Likewise, MJS as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for the Procurement of Goods / Services for Social Assistance for Basic Food in the Context of Handling Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Directorate of Social Protection for Social Disaster Victims of the Ministry of Social Affairs 2020 (April-October 2020).
Overall, HVS gave money amounting to Rp1,280,000,000.00 to AW and MJS. Meanwhile, AIM provided a total commitment fee of Rp1,950,000,000.00 to AW and MJS.
"It is regrettable that in the AIM and HVS indictments, it is always stated that JPB received gifts from AIM and HVS, but it was never stated in the description of the Indictment regarding how and where JPB received gifts and promises. our client JPB, "explained Maqdir.
Maqdir statement
In a recent trial with the defendants Harry Van Sidabukke and Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja, Kukuh said the minister had never provided directions to target Rp35 billion in funds from vendors. He also stated that there was no commitment fee of IDR 10,000 per package, or distribution of vendor clusters for social assistance.
In his statement, Kukuh also emphasized that the minister did not have a rice sales business. "Never, sir. Never," said Kukuh.
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