Erick Thohir Alludes To Potential Corruption In Krakatau Steel, KPK Admits Receiving Complaints

DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) admits that it has received a complaint indicating an initial indication of corruption at PT Krakatau Steel (Persero), Tbk. The KPK will follow up on incoming complaints.

This was conveyed by Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, responding to the statement by the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, who said there were indications of hidden corruption at the state-owned company.

"The information we have obtained is that it is true that the KPK has received the complaint in question. We make sure that each complaint will be followed up by first verifying and reviewing the report data to ascertain whether there are allegations of corruption and are under the authority of the KPK", Ali said in a written statement to reporters, Wednesday, September 29.

Ali said that the KPK actually already has an application called the Integrated Whistleblowing System that makes it easier for the public to report suspected corruption. This system is said to be the result of collaboration between the KPK and various institutions in the central, regional government, as well as SOEs and BUMD (Regional owned enterprises).

Therefore, people can complain quickly, easily, and the security of their identity will be guaranteed. "Complaints that are accompanied by valid initial data will greatly help us carry out a follow-up analysis", said Ali.

The KPK advised institutions in the government to continue to prioritize prevention efforts through system improvements and strengthening the integrity of employees.

"With careful identification, we hope that the public will understand better when to report and when to take steps to prevent corruption", said Ali.

As previously reported, Erick Thohir said there were indications of corruption by KRAS after it owed US$2 billion or IDR 31 trillion. He suspected that the debt in the past was an act of corruption stemming from investments that had reached US$850 million in the form of a blast furnace project.

"Krakatau Steel has a debt of 2 billion US dollars. One of them is an investment of 850 million US dollars, that is not good, there must be indications of corruption", he said during the online discussion 'Bangkit Bareng', Tuesday, September 28.

According to Erick, the Ministry of SOEs will also investigate the alleged crime. He said law enforcement for errant businesses must be corrected.

"We will pursue anyone who causes harm. Because this is back, it's not that we want to blame, but law enforcement on business processes that we have corrected wrongly", he said.