Former Minister Of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara Will Become A Witness At The COVID-19 Social Assistance Bribery Session

Former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara is scheduled to be a witness in the follow-up trial of the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) bribery case. Juliari Batubara was presented at the Jakarta Corruption Court by the KPK prosecutor.

Apart from Juliari, there are also a number of other names to be summoned for the accused who gave bribes, namely Harry Sidabuke and Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja.

"The trial plan, the witnesses to be summoned by Juliari Peter Batubara, Eko Budi Santoso (Juliari's former adjutant), Victorius Saut Hamonangan Siahaan (regular PPK Directorate of Social Protection for Social Disaster Victims of the Ministry of Social Affairs)," said Acting KPK spokesman for the field of prosecution Ali Fikri in his written statement. , Monday, March 22.

In the trial of this case, Harry Sidabuke was charged with paying bribes related to the provision of social assistance (bansos) worth Rp1.28 billion.

The bribes were given in stages through two official commitment makers (PPK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono.

"Has committed several actions that have such a relationship that it must be seen as a continuing act, giving something, namely giving a total of Rp1,280,000,000 to civil servants or state officials," said prosecutor Muhammad Nur Azis reading out the dakwan during the trial at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 24.

Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Tigapilar Argo Utama, Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja, was charged with committing a bribe of Rp1.95 billion. This money was given after the company was appointed as the provider of basic food assistance for handling COVID-19 totaling 115 thousand packages.

The money was not only handed over to Juliari but also for two of his subordinates, namely Matheus Joko and Adi Wahyono.