Former Head Of NTB ESDM Denies Receiving Money In PT AMG Mining Case

MATARAM - Former Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Mineral Energy Service (ESDM) Muhammad Husni denied receiving money in the alleged corruption case of the iron mine PT Anugrah Mitra Graha (AMG).

"My client did not receive any money at all," said Muhammad Husni's legal adviser, Abdul Hanan, in Mataram, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 7.

Hanan continued his client's statement responding to Rinus Adam Wakum's indictment which explained the role of Husni in receiving Rp696.5 million in cash.

"So, actually it was not Husni who received the money, but it was the area where the mining royalties were handed over," he said.

In the indictment read by the public prosecutor in the inaugural trial held at the Corruption Court at the Mataram District Court, Thursday (24/8), Rinus handed over the money as a form of handing over royalties.

However, because PT AMG's e-billing was still blocked by the center because the work plan and budget (RKAB) had not been approved by the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the royalties were rejected.

"For this rejection, Husni immediately ordered his subordinates to return them to PT AMG," said Hanan.

He emphasized that the refund had already taken place. Hanan said that his party had already obtained evidence of the return.

"My client returned the royalty deposit directly to PT AMG," he said.

Based on the evidence, the royalty deposit was returned on August 23, 2021. Husni handed over the money to Erfandi Muis, who is a representative of PT AMG.

"Erfandi Muis is the person who was given the power to take care of royalty money by the President Director of PT AMG, Po Suwandi," he said.

This legal advisor questioned the prosecutor's move to determine Husni as a suspect. In fact, related to the refund to Erfandi Muis, it has also been stated in the indictment of Rinus Adam Wakum.

"So, why did my client become a suspect? Which procedure was violated? Where is the state loss?" he said.

Knowing that Husni's case file is now in the hands of the public prosecutor, Hananakan shows evidence of the return of the royalties in court.

Spokesperson for the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Efrien Saputra, responded to the statement by inviting him to show the evidence in court.

"Please, later it will be tested at trial," said Efrien briefly.