Prosecutors Invite PDIP Kendal DPC Chair To Explore Fund Flow In Social Assistance Case

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The public prosecutor (JPU) at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to present 11 witnesses in the follow-up trial of the bribery case for the procurement of social assistance packages (bansos) at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) for the defendant Juliari Peter Batubara.

Of the dozens of witnesses, two of whom were the Expert Staff as well as the Kukuh Technical Team Ary Wibowo and the Chairperson of the PDI-Perjuangan DPC Kendal Regency, Akhmat Suyuti.

"Witnesses presented by Kukuh Ary Wibowo and Akhmat Suyuti," said Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri in his statement, Wednesday, June 9.

The two witnesses are said to have been involved in this case. Kukuh is said to have provided a table of companies working on the COVID-19 social assistance project that are required to deposit fees to Matheus Joko and Adi Wahyono.

Meanwhile, Akhmat Suyuti is said to have received 50 Singapore dollars from the former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara. The money was returned to the KPK when the corruption case was still being investigated.

Meanwhile, other witnesses will be presented, namely Irman Putra, Mochamad Iqbal, Go Erwin, Kuntomo Jenawi, Rocky Josep Pesik, Raj Indra Singh, Merry Hartini, Chandra Andriati, and Alisan alias David. The majority of them are owners of companies providing social assistance packages.

That way, in the trial later it is likely to explore and prove the flow of funds from Juliari Peter Batubara.

"(They are) witnesses for the Ministry of Social's trial today," said Ali.

Former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara was charged with accepting bribes worth Rp. 32.4 billion in a project to procure social assistance (bansos) for COVID-19 throughout the Greater Jakarta area. The bribe was received through two of his men.

Based on the indictment, Juliari received bribes through Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso amounting to Rp1,280 billion from a private party named Harry Van Sidabukke.

Then, Juliari also received money worth Rp. 1.950 billion from the President Director of PT Tigapilar Agro Utama, Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja.

Finally, the indictment also states that Juliari received money worth Rp. 29,252,000,000 or Rp. 29.2 billion from several providers of goods for the social assistance project.