Is It True That The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Did Not Handle The Money Laundering Offenses Of Former Kukar Regent Rita Widyasari Because Stepanus 'Case Broker' Received Money?

Gedung KPK (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman suspects that the bribe received by former KPK investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, amounting to Rp. 5.17 billion was the reason for stopping the investigation into the alleged money laundering of former Kutai Regent Kertanegara Rita Widyasari. Moreover, this case has not been delegated even though it has been running for three years.

"That the investigation into the Money Laundering Crime (TPPU) of Rita Widyasari began on January 16, 2018, has been going on for more than 3 years but has not been brought to the Corruption Court. The provision of Rp5 billion to Robin Pattuju is suspected to be for the termination of the money laundering offense case. Article 21 of Law 31 of 1999," said Boyamin in his written statement quoted on Monday, September 6.

In addition, the KPK has actually found indications of money laundering by Rita by buying vehicles, land, and other luxury goods using other people's names. However, until now this fact has not been followed up with an intensive investigation.

"That the KPK's last activity in investigating Rita Widyasari's ML was in December 2020. So practically for the past year there have been no Rita Widyasari ML investigations, but there has also been no activity of delegating the case to the Central Jakarya Corruption Court," said Boyamin.

Furthermore, he also asked the KPK Supervisory Board to audit the performance of the investigators. Moreover, it has been revealed that Stepanus became a case broker because he received money from a number of litigants.

Next, Boyamin also urged the KPK to assign a suspect status to Rita who gave money to Stepanus Robin. Of course, this determination must be made after two sufficient pieces of evidence are found.

"Immediately designate Rita as a suspect in the bribery of Stepanus Robin Patujju if at least two pieces of evidence are found related to the alleged bribery as stated in the indictment of Stefanus Robin Pattuju," he said.

In relation to these allegations, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) emphasized that the investigation into the money laundering act carried out by Rita was still ongoing despite allegations of receiving money from her former investigator.

He also ensured that his party would continue to work to resolve the alleged money laundering. "So it is not appropriate if there are parties who say this case is stalled," said Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Sector Ali Fikri.

As for the determination of the suspect's status, he said, the KPK could not do it haphazardly. Ali said that the determination of a person as a suspect must be in accordance with the adequacy of the evidence.

"As long as sufficient evidence is found, the KPK will certainly not hesitate to designate any party as a suspect for its development and we will of course inform any developments in the investigation process in a transparent manner," said Ali.

For information, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Rita a suspect in ML together with the Commissioner of PT Media Bangun Bersama Khairudin in 2018. In this case, they are suspected of placing, transferring and spending money from corruption to disguise the origin of the money.

As previously reported, in the summary of the indictment uploaded to the Case Investigation Information System (SIPP) of the Central Jakarta District Court, it was stated that Stepanus received a total of Rp. 11,025,077,000 and US$ 36,000 from a number of cases.

In carrying out his actions, Stepanus was assisted by lawyer Maskur Husain. The two of them worked together as case brokers from July 2020 to April this year.

Stepanus recorded five receipts of money for handling certain corruption allegations. First, he allegedly received money from the inactive Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial in the amount of Rp. 1.695 billion to stop handling cases of buying and selling positions in the Tanjungbalai City Government.

Next, Stepanus is suspected of receiving money from the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, and a private party named Aliza Gunadi. The two men gave Rp3.09 billion and US$36 thousand.

Third, he is suspected of receiving Rp507.39 million from the inactive Mayor of Cimahi Ajay Muhammad Priatna. This money relates to the case of receiving gratuities from the Bunda Hospital in Cimahi, West Java.

Fourth, Stepanus is suspected of having received Rp525 million from the President Director of PT Tenjo Jaya Usman Effendi. Finally, he is suspected of receiving Rp 5.17 billion in money from former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasar who was involved in gratification and money laundering cases at the KPK.

"It is reasonable to suspect that the gift or promise was given to mobilize him to do or not do something in his position," reads the summary of the indictment.