The Case Of The Rp189 Trillion Odd Transaction Related To The Gold Exportation Is Still Beingwanged

Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Mahfud MD/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

The TPPU Task Force has arranged a follow-up meeting between the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance, the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney General's Office, and the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, to explore odd transactions worth Rp. 189 trillion related to gold exportation found by PPATK.

The odd transaction, which is currently being investigated by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), is one of 18 PPATK findings that are a priority for the work of the Money Laundering Crime Unit (TPPU) until the end of 2023.

"We have decided to have a meeting together. We will invite Bareskrim (Polri), we will also invite, even though it is within the Ministry of Finance, we will also invite from the Directorate General of Taxes to ensure the data, information, and documents that have been obtained by Customs and Excise, which according to them cannot be raised to investigation, there is another potential criminal act," said Head of the TPPU Task Force Implementing Team, Sugeng Purnomo, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 10.

The meeting could also be an opportunity for other institutions outside Customs and Excise to provide input on documents that need to be completed to explore the suspicious Rp189 trillion transaction.

"Maybe later in the forum it is said that there are still things that have not been equipped with Customs and Excise friends. Well, we were thinking about conducting a joint investigation. So together in the sense that there is not a warrant," said Sugeng, who also serves as Deputy for Law and Human Rights at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

The joint investigation of institutions outside Customs and Excise during the meeting also helped explore the documents and information compiled by Customs and Excise. Then, when a violation of the law is found under his authority, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police or the Directorate General of Taxes immediately investigates and takes action against these violations.

"Say, the criminal act is related to the authority of the police friends, (then) Bareskrim who are independent, of course later (still) will communicate," said Sugeng.

Sugeng explained that each institution has its own separate authority to investigate and take action against criminal acts originating from allegations of money laundering offenses.

"It can be opened Article 2 of the Money Laundering Law, there are around 26 (types of original crime). Just like this, if we try specifically to see the authority, if we talk about the authority of Customs and Excise friends, it is only a criminal act related to Customs and Excise. Taxes are only related to tax crimes," said Sugeng.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office has the authority to investigate allegations of corruption, and the police have the authority to investigate corruption and other general crimes.

"Friends of Customs and Excise said that around Rp. 189 trillion there is another potential criminal act, so we will invite Bareskrim and the Prosecutor's Office to see, including to assess, provide input on whether what Customs and Excise have done related to Rp. 189 T is optimal or not," said the official at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

Regarding the findings of the suspicious transaction of Rp. 189 trillion, Customs and Excise has so far collected information from 36 parties, and plunged directly into four cities to investigate cases.

Earlier it was explained by Customs and Excise friends, some of the activities carried out included asking for an explanation of 36 parties, (we) have visited four cities. However, I will not explain where the four cities are, and that continues," said the Head of the TPPU Task Force Implementation Team.

Suspicious transactions of IDR 189 trillion are part of the findings of odd transactions of IDR 349 trillion at the Ministry of Finance as reported by PPATK from 2009 to 2023.

Following up on the PPATK report, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs on May 3, 2023 formed a TPPU Task Force to investigate the odd transaction.

Regarding the odd transaction of IDR 189 trillion, Mahfud MD once conveyed this during a meeting with Commission III of the DPR on March 29, 2023. The transaction was related to the exportation of gold which involved one of the private companies.

Legal steps have actually been taken by the Ministry of Finance regarding the case in the 2016'2017 period. However, the judge's decision until the reconsideration (PK) level in 2019 decided that there was no criminal element in the case.