Lawyer: No Witnesses Called Juliari Receiving Bribes

Former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The legal advisory team of former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara, Maqdir Ismail, said that until now there had been no witnesses who said that his client had received money related to the provision of social assistance (bansos) for Covid-19 Jabodetabek.

Not only that, said Maqdir, even in the trial with the defendants Harry Van Sidabukke and Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja, there were no witnesses presented by the General Prosecutor of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who stated Juliari had accepted a bribe.

"If I see, there hasn't been a single witness who said Mr. Juliari received the money, even though in the Harry and Ardian case, it has been proven that they suspected bribery," said Maqdir at the Corruption Eradication Court in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 19.

Harry Van Sidabukke and Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja are defendants who allegedly gave bribes to Juliari. Both are known to have been sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Panel of Judges at the Corruption Court, Central Jakarta.

According to Maqdir, the flow of money allegedly originating from the provision of social assistance only flowed to two official commitment makers at the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono.

"But that is what (the witness) admits so far (bribes have been given) to Pak Joko and Pak Adi Wahyono. Because the issue is whether the money has actually reached Pak Juliari, until now no witness has said that," he said. Maqdir.

Maqdir said, based on testimony from witnesses, his client had never received money from providing social assistance. This statement was strengthened by the statement of Juliari's Personal Secretary named Selvy Nurbaity.

"Earlier, he heard that his personal secretary (said) that the money he manages is DOM (ministerial operational funds) or money obtained from the remaining travel expenses," said Maqdir.

On the basis of the testimony of these witnesses, Maqdir asked the prosecutors at the KPK to prove their charges regarding the receipt of bribes received by Juliari. This is because so far there has been no witness testimony that states Juliari accepted a bribe.

"So if we talk about the indictment for receiving bribes regarding the procurement, there is not a single piece of evidence," said Maqdir.

Regarding the receipt of money that allegedly entered Selvy Nurbaity's account through three office boys of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Maqdir emphasized that his client did not know anything.

"I don't know, it's impossible for a minister to know who deposited the money, right," said Maqdir.

Reportedly, the KPK prosecutor questioned the personal secretary (Sespri) of former Minister of Social Juliari Peter Batubara, Selvy Nurbaity about the receipt of money in his account which was distributed from 3 office boys (OB) of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The money transfer process from the 3 OBs varies in nominal value, from tens to hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Initially the prosecutor confirmed to Selvy about a figure named Fitra Yusuf Safrizal. Selvy also answered that she knew Fitra as OB at the Ministry of Social Affairs. then the prosecutor immediately searched about the money Selvy received through his account.

"Did you receive a transfer from Fitra Yusuf to your account?" asked the KPK prosecutor at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Jalan Bungur Besar Raya, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (19/5/2021).

"Oh that's usually for the DOM sir, the operating fund manager ... the minister," Selvy replied.

Prosecutors asked Selvy what connection OB had with the minister's operational funds. According to prosecutors, Selvy's reasoning was absurd.

"How come the relationship with OB?" asked the prosecutor again.

"Oh no, so I like to leave it. I have cash, I put the cash in. So if there is a need, the minister, I can immediately transfer and I don't need to go to the bank," said Selvy.

"Here there is no evidence of your transfer to the minister," said the prosecutor.

"Yes, the average is for the minister's needs," said Selvy again.

Prosecutors later revealed that Selvy had three bank accounts. In the notes that the money entered in the bank account, it was recorded, said the prosecutor, that Pitra Yusuf sent money every few months and even every week with different amounts ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions.

"BB 393, this is Pitra Yusuf (send) Rp. 100 million, then there is another Rp. 13, Rp. 50 million, there is another Rp. 21, Rp. 45 million," said the prosecutor.

Based on the evidence pocketed by the KPK prosecutor, it turns out that Fitra Yusuf was not the only OB of the Ministry of Social Affairs who sent money to Selvy. There were three other OBs who sent money to Selvy, namely Agus Gunawan, M Arifin, and Risnawati, they sent money around 2020.

"This is Agus Gunawan (transfer) in the amount of Rp. 95 million, M Arifin has Rp. 60 million, Fitra Yusuf Safrizal Rp. 80 million, Muhammad Arifin Rp. 120 million, Agus Gunawan Rp. 67 million, Fitra Yusuf Rp. 30 million. Risnawati has Rp. 30 million, Rp. 50 million, Fitra. Yusuf Safrizal October Rp. 50 million, November 11 Rp. 40 million, M arifin November 17 Rp. 40 million, Fitra Yusuf there again November 25 Rp. 30 million, and December 1 Rp. 96 million, "said the prosecutor.

Apart from the transfer of money from OB of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the prosecutor also revealed that there were transfers of other people in Selvy's account.

The prosecutor revealed that there were several parties named Go Erwin who transferred Selvy worth Rp. 232 million.

"Go Erwin who?" said the Prosecutor.

"The contractor who used to renovate the room," said Selvy.

"50 million for renovating what room?" Asked the prosecutor again.

"Is it in or out?" Selvy said

"(Money) comes in. Not PIC? Social assistance vendors?" Asked the prosecutor.

"The contractor, sir. Sometimes there are activities that hinder Go Erwin," Selvy replied.

"Well, how come the contractor is interrupting (the Minister's) activities?" said the prosecutor in response.

In this trial, the accused was Juliari Peter Batubara. Juliari was charged with the Corona social assistance PPK Matheus Joko Santoso and the Corona social assistance KPA Adi Wahyono.

Juliari was charged with accepting bribes of Rp. 32.4 billion in connection with the provision of social assistance (bansos) in the form of basic foodstuffs in the context of handling the Corona virus or COVID-19 at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). This money, according to the prosecutor, was received by Juliari from a cut of the social assistance fee of IDR 10,000 per package collected by Adi and Joko.