Bribery In The Management Of PEN Funds Allegedly Occurs Due To Non-Transparency

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that bribery in the management of Regional National Economic Recovery (PEN) funds occurred because of the lack of transparency in the loan application process. This leaves a gap open for negotiations that will continue in a pretentious practice.

This was conveyed in response to the determination and detention of the Director General (Dirjen) of Regional Finance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Mochamad Ardian Noervianto, who was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He is suspected of accepting bribes for the administration of a regional PEN fund loan proposed by the inactive East Kolaka Regent Andi Merya Nur.

"Regarding loans, if everything is not transparent, it will eventually open up space for the parties to negotiate," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata, quoted from the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Thursday, February 3.

With this condition, continued Alexander, his party has repeatedly reminded the Ministry of Home Affairs to openly disclose information related to the management of regional PEN funds borrowing.

"We have reminded many times about transparency. In the past, when the approval was related to DAK, for example, at the Ministry of Finance," he said.

Alexander said the KPK would later coordinate with parties related to this loan to discuss the loan. Thus, regional heads no longer need to bribe other people to oversee the process.

"Actually, the insider only sells information. What he does actually doesn't exist, does he. It's not an authority, but he has information, as if the person concerned can take care of the information in quotes," he said.

"Well, this information was not conveyed by the regional head. Of course this is our duty and we will coordinate with PT SMI, for example, yes, just open the requirements to get a loan," added Alexander.

As previously reported, Ardian was named a suspect along with two other people. They are the inactive East Kolaka Regent Andi Merya Nur, who is also a suspect in the alleged bribery receipts, and the Head of the Muna Laode Regency Environment Agency, M. Syukur Akbar.

He is suspected of accepting bribes of Rp. 1.5 billion in Singapore dollars. Andi Merya Nur gave the money through Laode M Syukur.

From the Rp 2 billion, Ardian received Rp 1.5 billion while Laode M Syukur received Rp 500 million.