It Is The Turn Of The Experts From The Ministry Of Trade To Be Investigated By The AGO Regarding Steel Import Corruption

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Jampidsus examined an expert from the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) of the Republic of Indonesia as a witness regarding steel imports.

"The witness being examined is an expert in the development system section of the Information System Data Center of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia with the initials AC," said Head of the AGO, Ketut Sumedana in a statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 10, quoted from Antara.

Besides AC, another witness examined by Jampidsus AGO is ITR as Vice President Legal for PT NS Bluescope Indonesia.

Both of them were investigated regarding allegations of corruption in the import of iron or steel, alloy steel and their derivative products from 2016 to 2021, on Monday (9/10).

In the case of alleged criminal acts that occurred between 2016 and 2021, there were six companies importing iron or steel, alloy steel and their derivative products using a letter of explanation (sujel) or an import agreement without PI and LS issued by the Directorate of Imports of the Ministry of Trade.

The Sujel was issued on the basis of an importer's request with the reason that it was used in the context of procuring construction materials for road and bridge construction projects on the pretext of having a cooperation agreement with four SOEs.

The four SOEs are PT Waskita Karya, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Nindya Karya, and PT Pertamina Gas (Pertagas). After clarification, the four SOEs apparently never cooperated in procuring project materials in the form of iron or steel with the six importers.

It is suspected that the six importers also imported alloy steel using Sujel I on May 26, 2020 with the excuse that it was for the purposes of road and bridge construction projects, whereas in reality the road and bridge projects in question had been completed in 2018.

From the results of the investigation and now going up to the investigation, it has been found that there are indications of irregularities in the use of sujel related to the exception of the importation of iron or steel, alloy steel and their derivative products carried out by the six importers.

The six importers, namely PT Jaya Arya Kemuning; PT Duta Sari Sejahtera; PT Intisource Bajasakti; PT Prasasti Metal Utama; PT Bangun Era Sejahtera; and PT Perwira Adhitama.

Based on this, the importer is indicated to have committed a criminal act of corruption as stipulated in Article 2 Jo. Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.