Examine Effendi Gazali, KPK Delivers Recommendations For Bansos Procurement Vendors

Effendi Gazali (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has conducted an examination of communication observers from the University of Indonesia (UI), Effendi Gazali. He was examined as a witness in the alleged bribery for the provision of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Jabodetabek area.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Affairs Ali Fikri said that during the examination, Effendi was asked by investigators regarding the recommendation of a vendor.

This recommendation was conveyed through the Ministry of Social Affairs' commitment maker (PPK) official who is now a suspect in receiving bribes, Adi Wahyono (AW).

"He explored his knowledge regarding the implementation of social assistance procurement at the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2020, among others, regarding the alleged recommendation of one of the vendors proposed by the witness through suspect AW to participate in the provision of social assistance in the Greater Jakarta area," Ali said in his written statement, Friday, March 26.

As previously reported, Effendi Gazali fulfilled the summons of KPK investigators on Thursday, March 25. Before undergoing examination, he admitted that he received the KPK summons via a short message sent via the WhatsApp application at around 19.41 WIB.

After being questioned, he then said that there was a god who controlled the quota for the provision of social assistance (bansos).

The god in question is a large company that takes up quota in the procurement quota. He learned this from a facilitator in a research seminar related to social assistance which was held on 23 July.

"There (in the meeting, red) the point is we conveyed that the gods don't eat them all but the small ones, UMKM can also and they don't want to give these small things, UMKM," said Effendi to reporters. after being questioned by investigators at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, March 25.

It's just that, when asked about who the god was, he was reluctant to reveal it. Effendi only asked the KPK to act fairly and summon all of them, because he had already conveyed it to investigators.

"I have already been summoned, if the KPK really upholds great justice when will it be summoned," he said.

"I've come, fulfilled the summons even though yesterday it was only in WA. So, when will the big ones be called, "said Effendi.

In this case, the KPK named a number of suspects related to the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) packages of basic foodstuffs for the handling of COVID-19 in the Greater Jakarta area, including former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) MJS and AW as the recipient of the bribe and AIM and HS as the giver of the bribe.