The KPK Calls There Are UnCooperative Witnesses In The Investigation Of The COVID-19 Social Assistance

Deputy Chairman of the KPK Alexander Marwata. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) admits that it is difficult to investigate allegations of state losses during the process of procuring COVID-19 social assistance (bansos). There were related parties who were not cooperative when asked to fulfill the investigator's summons. "There are indeed uncooperative investigators," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata to reporters in Jakarta, Monday, December 12. Alexander did not specify their identities because the investigation had to be carried out behind closed doors. However, he said the related party did not fulfill the summons because the KPK could not make coercive efforts. Investigators can only wait for the presence of related parties. Of course, this is different in the investigation process which can make forced summons. "In the investigation, we do not have the authority to force people to come to the KPK to be investigated," he said. Meanwhile, the Director of Investigation of the KPK, Asep Guntur, stated that the development of the COVID-19 social assistance case continues. The investigation is sought to be completed immediately even though the calculation of state losses caused is still being calculated by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). "We are waiting together, yes. Every development must be conveyed. Rest assured that we will continue to work for every case," said KPK Director of Investigation Asep Guntur to reporters, Friday, December 9. Previously, there were two cases of COVID-19 social assistance developed by the KPK from a hand arrest operation (OTT) that ensnared former Social Minister Juliari Batubara. Both are related to state losses. A number of names have been dragged into the development of this case. Some of them, namely members of the DPR Herman Herry and Ihsan Yunus, were said to have asked for a share of social assistance packages in the trial of the first case.