Allegations Of Satellite Corruption At The Ministry Of Defense, The Attorney General's Office Reschedules Witness Examination From The Ministry Of Communication And Informatics

Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Indonesian Attorney General Febrie Adriansyah, Thursday (27/1/2022). ANTARA/Laily Rahmawati

JAKARTA - The Attorney General's Office has rescheduled the examination of witnesses from the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) in the alleged corruption case of the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) Satellite Project in Orbit Slot 123 degrees East Longitude (BT).

Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the Attorney General's Office, Febrie Adriansyah, said that the Kominfo witness was summoned for the purpose of an investigation, to find out how the transition and the authority to manage the orbit of 123 degrees East Longitude from Kominfo to the Ministry of Defense were.

"The Kominfo witness who was summoned, obviously we want to know how the transition, the authority for managing this orbit from Kominfo can be to the Ministry of Defense," said Febrie, when confirmed in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Friday, January 28.

According to him, the orbit management is under the authority of Kominfo. However, since being transferred to the Ministry of Defense, all management processes are under the Ministry of Defense.

"If he is at the Communications and Information Technology, the process for orbit is the same as if it was under the Ministry of Defense. Because this has an interest in defense. So we want to check it," said Febrie.

Based on the electronic evidence obtained from the search, Febrie said, investigators are currently investigating, looking at the satellite lease side by filling out the orbit of Avanti Communication Ltd Bernama, which then uses the Artemis Satellite.

“Then the second one is deepened whether the satellite is working after being paid for. Then it will be confirmed later with investigators whether there is really any benefit," he said.

Apart from Kominfo, investigators will also examine a number of witnesses from PT Dini Nusa Kusuma (DNK), as the holder of the Indonesian Satellite Filling Management Rights to be able to operate satellites or use radio frequency spectrum in certain satellite orbits. Director of Investigation Jampidsus Supardi said his party had sent a letter summons for questioning to Kominfo. An examination is scheduled for next week.

"Next week if I'm not mistaken. Monday and Wednesday. The letter (notice, ed) has been sent," Supardi said.

An examination of the Kemenkominfo has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 25. The party questioned was the Director General of Resources and Equipment of Post and Information Technology (Directorate General of SDPPI) of the Ministry of Communication and Information.

However, none of the parties who were asked for information were present, so the investigators requested a re-examination for next week.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD in a press conference Thursday, January 13 stated that the Ministry of Communication and Information has issued a decision regarding the right to use Indonesian satellite filling in the 123 degree orbit for the filing of the Garuda-2 and Nusantara A1-A satellites. to PT DNK.

On December 10, 2018, Kominfo issued a decision regarding the Right to Use Indonesian Satellite Filling at Orbit 123 degrees East Longitude for Garuda-2 and Nusantara A1-A Satellite Filling to PT DNK. However, PT DNK was not able to resolve the problem of the Ministry of Defense's residue in the procurement of the Defense Communications Satellite (Satkomhan).