KPK Examines Lobbies Of Former Director General Mochamad Ardian To Smooth Disbursement Of PEN Funds At The Ministry Of Home Affairs

Illustration-KPK (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the alleged intervention of the former Director General of Regional Finance at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mochamad Ardian Noervianto (MAN) in proposing the National Economic Recovery (PEN) fund.

This was done by examining the Head of the Public Financing Division of PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), Erdian Dharmaputra as a witness for the suspect Ardian at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Monday, April 4.

"It was confirmed, among other things, related to the stages of the proposal to obtain PEN funds at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the alleged intervention of the suspect MAN so that each proposal can be immediately approved by the existence of a target for receiving a certain amount of money for the benefit of the suspect MAN," said Acting KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri in his statement. in Jakarta, Tuesday.

The KPK summoned another witness for the suspect Ardian, namely a civil servant at the Ministry of Home Affairs' Directorate General of Regional Finance, Febriana Anidya. However, witness Febriana did not attend the summons of the investigator team.

"Not present and will be rescheduled," said Ali.

The KPK has named Ardian along with the inactive East Kolaka Regent Andi Merya Nur (AMN) and the Head of the Muna Regency Environmental Service, Laode M Syukur Akbar (LMSA) as suspects in the alleged bribery case related to the 2021 PEN loan application.

The KPK explained that Ardian has duties, among others, to carry out a form of direct government investment in the form of a 2021 PEN loan from the central government to the regional government through PT SMI. The investment is in the form of program and/or activity loans according to regional needs.

In March 2021, Andi Merya contacted Laode M Syukur to ask for assistance in obtaining a PEN fund loan for East Kolaka Regency. In addition to contacting Laode M Syukur, Andi Merya asked LM Rusdianto Emba for help, who knew Ardian well.

Furthermore, in May 2021, Laode M Syukur brought together Andi Merya with Ardian at the Ministry of Home Affairs Building, Jakarta. Andy Merya applied for a PEN loan of Rp350 billion and asked Ardian to oversee and support the loan application process.

The KPK suspects that Ardian asked for compensation for his role by asking for an amount equal to 3 percent of the loan application value. The details are 1 percent for the issuance of considerations from the Ministry of Home Affairs, 1 percent for the initial assessment from the Ministry of Finance, and 1 percent for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PT SMI and the East Kolaka Regency Government.

Andi Merya fulfilled Ardian's wish and sent Rp2 billion to Laode M Syukur's bank account. LM Rusdianto Emba was also aware of the giving of money as the initial stage of compensation.

The KPK suspects that of the Rp2 billion, Ardian received 131,000 Singapore dollars or equivalent to Rp1.5 billion which was given directly to his private residence in Jakarta, and Laode M Syukur received Rp500 million.

Ardian is suspected of actively monitoring the handover process, even though at that time he was carrying out self-isolation by always communicating with several trusted people who had previously been introduced to Laode M Syukur.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stated that Andi Merya's application for a PEN fund loan was approved by adding Ardian's initials to the final draft of the Minister of Home Affairs' letter to the Minister of Finance.