Attorney Juliari Calls Pepen's Testimony Only Based On Hearings

Former Social Minister Juliari Batubara (Photo: Antara)q

JAKARTA - The legal advisory team of former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Peter Batubara, Maqdir Ismail said the testimony of Director General of Protection and Social Security (Dirjen Linjamsos) Pepen Nazaruddin has no strong evidence.

In his testimony at the Tipikor Court, on Monday, May 10, 2021, Pepen stated about an order from Juliari to cut Rp 10 thousand per-package of social assistance (bansos) sembako.

"In his statement as a witness, Pepen Nazaruddin, stated that adi Wahyono briefly stated that he received a directive from the Minister of Social Affairs asking for a fee of Rp 10 thousand for each package," Maqdir said in his statement, Tuesday, May 11.

According to Maqdir, Pepen's testimony does not have sufficient evidence because it is an indirect and stand-alone testimony. In the hearing, Pepen stated that he heard juliari's order from the power of budget user Adi Wahyono.

"This information is not only independent, but also information that is de auditu witness de auditu not have the power as a means of witness evidence," said Maqdir.

Maqdir said that testimony that is de auditu or testimony because of hearing information from other parties can not be accepted as evidence. Moreover, in his testimony also Pepen mentioned never confirm directly to Juliari about the order to cut Rp 10 thousand per-package bansos.

"In addition, regarding the truth of this directive, it is also said that he (Pepen) never asked for confirmation to the Minister about the truth of the story delivered at a glance by Adi Wahyono," said Maqdir.

Not only that, in his testimony also Pepen mentioned that he is not the party responsible for the procurement of food bansos for this Jabodetabek area. Instead the responsibility lies with Mensos Juliari. According to Maqdir, it is Pepen who serves as the person in charge of the procurement of this bansos.

"Based on the fact of the decree of the Director General Number: 10/3/BS.01.02/4/2020, dated April 30, 2020, which he (Pepen) signed, he is in charge of the implementation of activities," said Maqdir.

On the other hand, Maqdir requested that the public prosecutor at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigate the alleged receipt of gratification by Pepen, namely Brompton bicycles and the purchase of cicin worth Rp 50 million from Adi Wahyono.

"Things that need to be recorded and followed up the receipt of gratification by Pepen Nazaruddin in the form of Brompton bicycles and ring repairs with Akik worth Rp 50 million by Adi Wahyono that are not reported to kpk," said Maqdir.

Previously reported, Pepen Nazaruddin mentioned an order from Juliari Batubara about cutting Rp 10 thousand per-package bansos. Pepen mentioned this when presented as a witness for defendant Juliari in the case of alleged bribes procurement bansos handling the Covid-19 pandemic for jabodetabek area in the Tipikor Court, Monday10 May.

Initially Pepen still covered up about juliari's order to cut Rp 10 thousand per package bansos. Pepen only mentions that the cuts of Rp 10 thousand are Adi Wahyono as the power of budget users (KPA) and Matheus Joko Santoso as the official of commitment makers (PPK).

The judge then asked if the rp 10,000 deduction was an initiative of KPA and PPK or there was an order from another party. Pepen called the rp 10,000 cut an initiative of the two people.

"As far as I know their initiative," pepen said at the Tipikor Court, Central Jakarta.

Hearing Pepen's answer, the judge sounded upset. Because the judge said, Pepen's description is different from the previous information.

"Please tell me not to shift. This I noted last Wednesday, you can be detained later after this, if you are caught lying. I'll order you to be detained and then processed. I'm sure, this is not a joke," the judge said.

"I remind you if you know who ordered the cut of Rp 10 thousand per package?," asked the judge.

Hearing the judge's threat, Pepen admitted knowing of the rp 10,000 cut order. According to Pepen, the order came directly from Juliari Peter Batubara.

"Knowing, Mr. Juliari," Pepen said.

Pepen learned of the rp 10,000 cut order by Juliari based on the story of Adi Wahyono. "From KPA (Adi). The KPA has lately said there is an order for such cuts," Pepen said.

Reportedly, former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara was charged with taking bribes related to the procurement of social assistance (bansos) of the Covid-19 pandemic for jabodetabek area in the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos)

The public prosecutor at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) alleged Juliari received a total of Rp 32.48 billion in this case.

The money was received by Juliari from a number of parties, namely from businessman Harry Van Sidabukke amounting to Rp 1.28, then from Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja amounting to Rp 1.95 billion, and Rp 29.25 billion from several other Covid-19 bansos vendors.

The money was received by Juliari through two Commitment Making Officials (PPK) in Kemensos, namely Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso.

Prosecutors said the money was received by Juliari related to the appointment of PT Pertani (Persero), PT Mandala Hamonangan Sude, and PT Tigapilar Agro Utama as well as several other vendors in the procurement of food bansos for the handling of Covid-19 at the Directorate of Social Protection of Social Disaster Victims (PSKBS) of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2020.

Related to the money of Rp 29.25 billion, prosecutors said juliari received from dozens of vendor companies bansos Covid-19. Dozens of vendors gave various money to Juliari, ranging from Rp 5 million to Rp 1.2 billion.

For his actions, Juliari was charged with violating Article 12 letter a or Article 11 of Law (Uu) Ri No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Tipikor Juncto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st Penal Code, Juncto Article 64 paragraph (1) penal code.