KPK Receives Report Of Alleged Corruption Of Merpati Nusantara Airlines

Acting KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri. ANTARA/ Benardy Ferdiansyah

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed that it received a report related to the alleged corruption of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

"Regarding the report, the information we received has been received by the KPK correspondence department," said Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri in his statement quoted by Antara, Monday, May 23.

Ali said the KPK would follow up on every public report by first verifying and reviewing the report's data.

"Verification to produce recommendations, whether the complaint is feasible to be followed up with a review process or archived," said Ali.

In addition, he said, the KPK will also proactively investigate and collect various additional information and information to complete the reported complaint.

"If the complaint becomes the authority of the KPK, it will certainly be followed up in accordance with applicable legal provisions," he said.

Ali said that public complaints are one of the nodes of the KPK's collaboration with the public in efforts to eradicate corruption, so that the KPK appreciates those who continue to persistently take a role in efforts to eradicate corruption.

Previously, the advocacy team for the association of former pilots of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines visited the KPK Building, Jakarta, Monday to report allegations of corruption in the management of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

"We report to the president director of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines and the directors of the PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines pension fund," said Lamsihar Rumahorbo as attorney for the advocacy team of the former pilots of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

The report, he said, was also based on data from the Commission VI working committee of the DPR RI.

"Why are we reporting? Based on data from the working committee of Commission VI DPR RI, there are documents that we do have that conclude that there are allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism that allegedly occurred in the management of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines," he said.

In addition, he also mentioned that the pension funds, severance pay, and also the rights of the employees of PT Merpati Nusantara Airliners had not been paid.

"So, we saw a lot of irregularities, irregularities that did occur in the body of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines. Apart from harming the rights of our clients, it also harmed the finances of the Republic of Indonesia," said Lamsihar.

In his report to the KPK, he also admitted to bringing a number of evidences including the results of the work meeting of Commission VI DPR RI, a statement letter on the P5 program (offering a package for solving employee problems), and the homologation decision by the Surabaya Commercial Court.

"These evidences will be our basis for the irregularities that are alleged to have been corruption crimes," said Lamsihar.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, David Sitorus who is also the attorney for the association's advocacy team said the report was related to the issue of severance pay for employees who had not been paid.

"Our aim in coming to the KPK is to report indications of corruption in resolving problems within PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, especially the issue of severance pay for employees of around Rp318 billion," said David.