Social Assistance Recipients Prefer Goods Over Money

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Beneficiaries of the COVID-19 social assistance testified in the case of a follow-up hearing of the alleged bribery case for the provision of social assistance. The witness expressed her gratitude for receiving the social assistance.

"For those of me who receive social assistance, I am very grateful for the assistance", said Rumiah when testifying for the defendant Harry Van Sidabukke at the Corruption Crime Court in Jakarta, Monday, April 5.

In her testimony, Rumiha said that she prefers receiving social assistance in the form of basic food packages, rather than in cash. She is a resident of Duku Selatan Village, Koja District, North Jakarta.

"So for me, it is better for social assistance (basic food packages) because everything is there, whether there are noodles, whether rice is very helpful", said Rumiah.

The same thing was conveyed by Lusia Rahmawati when giving her testimony. This resident of South Duku Village, Koja, North Jakarta also said that social assistance in the form of food packages is very beneficial for residents affected by COVID-19.

"It's more useful for necessities, sir, because I also received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs and from that post, sometimes if I run out of money, tomorrow I spend immediately buying snacks, buying quotas. So if it's in the form of groceries, we can cook rice and other foods in the package", said Lusia.

Previously, the Director of PT. Hamonangan Sude, Rajif Bachtiar Amin said that his men had difficulty getting a signature from Matheus Joko Santoso (MJS) who at that time served as a commitment maker (PPK) official for the provision of social assistance at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

However, the signature would be easily obtained when the defendant Harry Van Sidabukke asked for it.

"Has the staff member, a witness named Siska, complained that she never got Sir Joko's signature, except for Harry who asked for it ?", asked the defendant Harry Van Sidabukke.

He admitted that the signature of the Goods and Services Provider Appointment (SPPBJ) was difficult to obtain. But if Harry Van asked Matheus Joko Santoso for an autograph, it was not difficult.

"Once, I forgot exactly. I think more than once", said Rajif.

Then he reiterated that the signature of the social assistance procurement letter at the Ministry of Social Affairs is very easy to obtain if Harry asks for it directly to Matheus Joko Santoso.

"So I really have to ask ?", Harry searched.

"Yes, right", said Rajif.

President Director of PT Tigapilar Argo Utama Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja and legal consultant Harry Van Sidabukke were charged with bribing former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Batubara with a total of IDR 3.2 billion. The bribery was alleged to facilitate the appointment of social assistance providers in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) fiscal year 2020 areas.