8 People Prevented From Going Abroad Regarding Alleged Corruption In Rubber Processing At The Ministry Of Agriculture

KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardika/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked the Directorate General of Immigration to prevent eight people from leaving the country. This effort was carried out in connection with allegations of corruption in the procurement of rubber processing facilities for the fiscal year 2021-2023.

"Currently, some have been prevented from leaving the country. A total of eight people," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika to reporters in a written statement, Monday, December 2.

The identity of the party prevented from leaving the country was not conveyed by Tessa. This prevention is carried out as a step to facilitate the work of investigators who at any time need information from the eight people.

In addition to taking precautions, the KPK has conducted searches. There were a number of findings obtained by investigators in the forced attempt.

"Found money, notes, and electronic evidence," said a spokesman with the investigator's background without elaborating.

Previously reported, the KPK suspected that there was an inflated budget for the purchase of rubber sap at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). This was conveyed by the Director of Investigation of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu when asked about the ongoing investigation.

"So we are currently also handling cases related to procurement, I forgot the name, but the acid used to thicken rubber.... If it used to be called ant acid, the name was there to thicken rubber," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, November 28.

"Well, this acid, the procurement of acid, so there are already goods, there is a fertilizer factory in West Java that produces acid. Well, this is needed in filling rubber," he continued.

However, during the purchase process, it turned out that the Ministry of Agriculture had inflated prices. "So the price that was sold was for example Rp. 10,000 per liter to Rp. 50,000 per liter," said Asep.