KPK Collaborates With BPKP To Investigate The Continuation Of The Bribery Case For COVID-19 Social Assistance Procurement

DOK VOI / ILLUSTRASI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed that it is currently conducting an investigation into the development of a bribery case for the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Greater Jakarta area which has ensnared former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara.

"So far, its development is still in the process of being investigated. There is an investigation to follow up on the facts of the trial," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata to reporters, Tuesday, October 26.

This development, he continued, was also carried out because his party received a lot of information from the community about the value of the food packages being distributed that did not match the profits. This was then explored by cooperating with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

"Well, of course it is investigated and we are also cooperating with BPKP to audit the investigation for the distribution of the social assistance," said Alexander.

The KPK, continued Alex, actually already has a name and is targeting certain parties involved in this riot. However, Alexander said that his party will not inform yet because the investigation is still being carried out to raise this allegation to the level of investigation.

"An investigation has been carried out and later, for example, if the evidence is strong enough, it will be exposed to the leadership and will be named a suspect," he said.

"There is an investigation activity to follow up on the distribution of the social assistance but it has not yet reached the investigation stage," added Alexander.

Previously reported, the bribery case for social assistance was revealed after the KPK carried out a hand arrest operation (OTT) at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). Furthermore, from the operation, former Minister of Social Affairs Juliari Batubara was named a suspect.

In this case, Juliari was sentenced to 12 years in prison for being proven to have accepted bribes related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance in the Jabodetabek area in 2020 of up to IDR 14.7 billion.

Apart from Juliari, two of Juliari's former subordinates, namely the former Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Adi Wahyono and Matheus Joko Santoso are also involved in this case. Adi was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in prison while Matheus was sentenced to 9 years in prison.