12 Witnesses Have Been Examined By The NTB Police, The Status Of Alleged Corruption In Capital Participation To PT GNE BUMD Is Still Being Investigated

Head of Bidhumas Polda NTB Kombes Pol. Arman Asmara Syarifuddin. BETWEEN/Dhimas B.P.

NTB - Polda Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) stated that the handling of the alleged corruption case of the government's capital investment budget to BUMD PT Gerbang NTB Emas (GNE) as the organizer of the regional drinking water supply system (SPAM) in 2019 2022 is still ongoing at the investigation stage.

"Yes, the handling is still ongoing, still at the investigation stage, still collecting information and data," said Head of Public Relations of the NTB Police, Kombes Pol Arman Asmara Syarifuddin in Mataram, NTB, Tuesday, August 22, as reported by Antara.

In this series of investigations, the NTB Police have asked for information from a number of parties who know and are involved in the investment.

"From the latest record, 12 people have been questioned. Its nature is still a request for clarification because it is still in the investigation stage," he said.

The number of parties being questioned, said Arman, will increase. In this series, his party also scheduled to dig up information from expert witnesses.

In handling a corruption case involving PT GNE as the BUMD of the NTB Provincial Government, the NTB Police expanded the investigation by investigating the permit for clean water production for the people in Gili Trawangan and Meno, North Lombok Regency.

Regarding the case of the production permit which is a certain criminal act (tipidter), Arman revealed that he would raise the status of the handling to the investigation stage.

"Yes, so someone has entered the corruption and corruption sub-directorate. For corruption cases, investigations have entered, the corruption is still being investigated," said Arman.

PT GNE held this regional SPAM project based on the direct appointment of the Governor of NTB Zulkieflimansyah in accordance with the issuance of the Governor Regulation (Pergub) NTB Number: 500560.

Following up on the governor's regulation, PT GNE carried out two methods of project implementation. First, the SPAM Regional project throughout the Lombok Island which will be held through the government's cooperation process with business entities (KPBU).

Second, business to business using the sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) method to support the availability of clean water in areas that are difficult to reach by the PDAM network.

In 2019, it was recorded that PT GNE signed a memorandum of understanding in cooperation with foreign investor McKinley Investment, which is a joint investor from three countries (United States, Korea, and Japan).

Dalam kesepakatan yang berlangsung di Thailand tersebut, McKinley Investment menyetujui investasi awal dalam penyediaan air bersih tersebut senilai Rp600 miliar.

Furthermore, PT GNE at the end of January 2020 was also recorded as signing a memorandum of understanding in cooperation with PT Potum Mundi Infranusantara (Potum). The investment value of the cooperation was approved with a figure of IDR 2 trillion.

In signing the memorandum of understanding, PT Potum acted as the company that built the SPAM infrastructure, while PT GNE was the manager.

Cooperation includes providing systems for water services in North Lombok and Mataram City as well as strategic areas in Tiga Gili (Trawangan, Air, and Meno) and Senggigi. In addition, Potum will also support the provision of water systems for services for the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK).

From the signing of the cooperation, the Governor of NTB and a number of regional officials were also present to witness.

Furthermore, there is cooperation between PT GNE and PT Berkat Air Laut (BAL) in providing clean water in Gili Trawangan and Meno. However, the government in December 2022 officially revoked the permit because the provision of clean water by PT GNE in collaboration with PT BAL came from groundwater.

In addition, the government is considering the existence of PDAM Amerta Dayan Gunung belonging to the North Lombok Regency Government which manages SPAM in the tourist area.

In managing clean water in the Gili Trawangan and Meno tourist areas, PDAM Amerta Dayan Gunung established KBPU with PT Tiara Citra Nirwana (TCN). Clean water processing is carried out using the SWRO system.

The operation of PT TCN in the tourist area has been strengthened by the issuance of a permit from the NTB One Stop Integrated Licensing Investment Service (DPMPTSP).