Check the Authenticity of 55 Kg Platinum Langkat Regent, KPK Partners with Experts from Antam and Pegadaian 

Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein/DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to check the authenticity of 55 kilograms of platinum found from the car of the Langkat Syah Afandin non-active Regent during the hand-in-hand operation (OTT). The investigative team is said to have coordinated with several experts, including from PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), Tbk.

"For its authenticity, we are still coordinating with several experts who yesterday we also conveyed that there were from Antam, from Pegadaian," said Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein, quoted on Monday, July 13.

Taufik said this coordination was carried out by sending a letter. According to him, the platinum metal findings must be checked for authenticity because the value is fantastic if it is converted into rupiah.

As for the price of platinum, based on information from a number of websites, it reaches Rp1.6 million to Rp2 million per gram depending on the grade, brand, and store.

"We investigators, investigators think the same thing ... this platinum may be fantastic because there are 55 pieces," he said.

The check, continued Taufik, will be carried out in conjunction with the ongoing investigation process. "Because the investigation team is still working in the field for the construction of the case," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK named Syah Afandin as a suspect in receiving bribes and Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu'arif as a suspect in giving bribes related to projects at the Education Office and the Langkat Regency Housing and Residential Area (Perkim).

In addition to the alleged project bribes, the KPK also found indications of other gratification received by Syah Afandin with a value of at least IDR 3.5 billion. The allegations are related to mutations and filling positions in the Langkat Regency Government, the appointment of school principals, to the procurement of school uniforms which are still being investigated by investigators.

The determination of the suspect is known to have started from a hand-in-hand operation (OTT). From this activity, the anti-corruption commission team also found Rp100 million; platinum metal which is estimated to weigh 55 kilograms from Syah Afandin's car; and cash in various currencies with a total value of around Rp1.22 billion with details of Singapore dollars (SGD) 66,950, Malaysian ringgit (RM) 11,518, and rupiah cash of Rp244.7 million.

Then the team also blocked two accounts in the name of Syah Afandin with a balance of around Rp2.27 billion and a number of electronic evidence and documents that will be analyzed for the purposes of investigation.

As a result of his actions, Syah Afandin as the recipient of the bribe was suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.

Meanwhile, Yaqub, as the party suspected of giving bribes, was charged with Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.