Judging To Defame The Institution, The Indonesian Navy Will Demand Hoax Spreaders Have Officers Ask For Rp5.4 Billion Allotment To The MT Nord Joy Ship

Deputy Chief of Staff Laksdya Ahmadi Heri Purwono when giving a press statement after closing the Kasal Cup Women's Volleyball Tournament, at Cilangkap Headquarters, East Jakarta/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Wakasal) Vice Admiral Ahmadi Heri Purwono denied that a Navy officer asked for US$375,000 or equivalent to Rp5.4 billion to free the Panamanian-flagged fuel tanker MT Nord Joy.

The ship is known to have docked illegally in Indonesian waters off the coast of Singapore.

"So the investigation is just a hoax. What is clear is that the ship is still under investigation and is now in Tanjung Pinang," said Heri after closing the 2022 Kasal Cup Women's Volleyball Tournament at Cilangkap Headquarters, East Jakarta, Antara, Friday, June 10.

According to him, the Commander of Fleet I Rear Admiral Arsyad Abdullah has been ordered to Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands, to convey information that the news is a hoax.

"The ship is still in the process of being investigated, how do you want to ask for a bribe. If you asked for a bribe, of course, it has already been released, perhaps nothing happened. So we have carried out a clarification that the Fleet Commander I was ordered there to answer. What is clear is the evidence of his crime. (the violation) is being investigated in Tanjung Pinang," explained Wakasal.

In the near future, the Indonesian Navy will also hold a press conference to clarify the allegations because the news that gets out can have a bad effect on the image of the TNI in general, and in particular the Navy.

"What is clear is that we will carry out a press release to prove that it doesn't exist. Because sometimes there are a lot of confusing news, the exact purpose of which is to destroy or defame the institution," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Naval Information Service (Kadispenal) First Admiral of the TNI, Julius Widjojono, added that so far there has been no indication of members who did this.

Julius emphasized that the Indonesian Navy is seriously pushing for the acceleration of the legal process for the tanker ship to the prosecutor's office to obtain maximum sanctions in accordance with the provisions.

The Navy has also asked the reporter who knows about the bribery of the Navy officer to report it to the Navy Headquarters.

"If you can't mention it, then this is defamation, we will make demands according to the law," he said.