LPSK Ready to Protect Witnesses to Support AGO Reveal Satellite Corruption

Deputy Chairperson of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency, Edwin Partogi Pasaribu. (photo: doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Allegations of corruption in the satellite project that cost the state finances of Rp800 billion received full support from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). This institution stated to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to be ready to protect the witnesses, namely the perpetrators (justice collaborators) and experts in the case.

"LPSK encourages the AGO to thoroughly investigate the parties responsible for the alleged corruption case of the satellite project. LPSK urges those who know or have information related to this case to dare to speak up to assist the law enforcement process. The state through LPSK will ensure protection so that witnesses can provide information safely," said LPSK Deputy Chair Edwin Partogi Pasaribu in a written statement received by Antara, in Jakarta, Saturday, January 15.

According to him, encouragement and support for the handling of alleged corruption cases is needed because the satellite project does not only intersect with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Communication and Information of the Republic of Indonesia, but also corporate parties abroad.

In addition, said Edwin, due to the large state financial losses, it is hoped that there will be maximum efforts from various related parties to recover the problem.

He also said that LPSK was ready to coordinate and collaborate with the Attorney General's Office or the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs for the sake of disclosing the alleged corruption case.

The Attorney General's Office has also announced an increase in the status of the handling of the alleged corruption of the satellite project to the investigation stage.

At the same time, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD also stated that the abuse of authority in the satellite project is suspected to have cost the state as much as Rp800 billion.

The disclosure of the alleged corruption case in the satellite project began with a management void after the Garuda-1 satellite left its orbital slot of 123 degrees east longitude.

At that time, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics complied with the request of the Ministry of Defense to obtain the right to manage the slot.

Furthermore, in its development, although the approval for the use of the 123 degrees east longitude orbital slot from the Ministry of Communication and Information has not yet been issued, the Ministry of Defense has made a satellite lease contract with Avanti Communication Ltd's orbital filler called the Artemis Satellite.

In addition, according to Mahfud MD's official statement, the Ministry of Defense has also signed contracts with companies Navayo, Airbus, Detente Hogan Lovells, and Telesat in the period from 2015 to 2016.