Acting Deputy For Emergency Handling Of BNPB During The COVID-19 Pandemic Called By The KPK Regarding PPE Procurement Corruption

The KPK's Red and White Building. (doc VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned Dody Ruswandi, who served as Acting Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB in 2020 on Monday, December 23. He was questioned as a witness in a corruption case in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The examination was carried out at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika to reporters in a written statement, Monday, December 23.

In addition, two other witnesses were summoned by investigators. They are Sri Lucy Novita as an anesthesi doctor at Lembang Hospital and Eisen Hower Sitanggang who is a civil servant of the West Bandung District Health Office who is also a doctor.

Tessa has not yet detailed the examination of the three witnesses. However, their statements are needed to investigate allegations of corruption in the procurement of PPE.

As previously reported, the KPK has named and detained three suspects in alleged corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the President Director of PT Permana Putra Mandiri (PPM), Ahmad Taufik; Commitment Making Officer (PPK) at the Health Crisis Center of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Budi Badya; and the President Director of PT Energi Kita Indonesia, Satrio Wibowo.

The three are suspected of causing the state to lose up to Rp319 billion based on the results of an audit by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). This procurement budget comes from the Ready Fund for Using the 2020 National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

The KPK suspects that there has been a violation of the purchase procedure. Among other things, the distribution by the TNI at the order of the Head of BNPB at that time took PPD from a producer owned by PT PPM in the Bonded Area and sent it directly to 10 provinces without any documentation, supporting evidence and ordering letters.

Then there was a renegotiation carried out by Harmensyah as the BNPB Budget User Authority (KPA) so that the PPE price was lowered by 10 US dollars or from 60 dollars to 50 dollars. This process, called the KPK, does not refer to the price of the same brand PPE purchased by the Ministry of Health previously, which was Rp. 370 thousand.

Next there is a backdate to appoint Budi as PPK for the procurement of PPE at the Ministry of Health on March 28, 2020. Meanwhile, the letter was issued the day before.

Then, there is also an PPD Order Letter from the Ministry of Health to PT PPM in the amount of 5 million sets with a unit price of 48.4 US dollars signed by Budi, Ahmad Taufik and Satrio. However, there are no job specifications, work implementation time, payment and the rights and obligations of the parties in detail.

In addition, the Order Letter was addressed to PT PPM, but PT EKI also signed. As a result of their actions, the suspects were suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph 1 or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code (KUHP).