Allegations Of Jakarta's Social Assistance Corruption In The Anies Era, Heru Budi: Can't Comment

Acting (Pj) Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono. (VOI-Diah)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono admitted that he could not comment on the alleged corruption in DKI Jakarta social assistance (bansos) in 2020, which is now being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"I can't comment. Please discuss it later (by the KPK)," said Heru when met in South Jakarta, Friday, January 13.

If the practice of corruption in the procurement of social assistance for residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic does happen, Heru also does not want to trace it further. Because, at that time the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government was still led by Anies Baswedan.

"It took a long time, in 2020, I don't know. I didn't go that way. But at that time (the distribution of social assistance) was over, right," he said.

The issue of social assistance corruption originated from the Twitter account @kunawa belonging to social media activist, Rudi Valinka. The @kunawa account initially highlighted the allocation of the social assistance procurement budget from the DKI Provincial Government to three companies to take care of the distribution of 11 stages of social assistance.

In addition, the ceiling for the provision of social assistance by Perumda Pasar Jaya is the largest compared to other companies, which is IDR 2.85 trillion. However, Rudi did not clearly specify the alleged corruption.

He also only revealed data that was claimed to be the result of a forensic audit by the official of the public accountant (KAP) Ernst & Young who stated that there was an unknown surprise (unknown loss) worth IDR 150 billion.

Furthermore, the @warawa account also opens data that is suspected to be a list of vendors and suppliers for the procurement of social assistance for the DKI Provincial Government.

Dalam daftar tersebut, terdapat beberapa vendor dan suplier yang bukan belakang penyedia bahan makanan, melainkan pengelola parkir hingga kontraktor bangunan.

Next, @kurawa also revealed the condition of the rice storage warehouse which was suspected to be for the distribution of social assistance. The condition of the rice there has started to rot with the color of the rice that has turned yellow and accompanied by fungi.

The KPK admitted that it would check whether or not there were reports of alleged corruption in the procurement of social assistance in DKI Jakarta during the viral administration of Anies Baswedan.

"We will check whether the case is in the KPK or not," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters, Thursday, January 12.

Ali also asked anyone who knew about the alleged corruption to report immediately. This report must be done so that the KPK can carry out an investigation.

After reporting, the KPK will move later. "We will definitely follow up," said Ali.

"KPK will verify, we are reviewing corruption, for example. We are following up and we are enriching further information," he continued.