Luhut's Name Was Dragged Into The CPO Export Case, Spokesperson For The Coordinating Ministry For Maritime Affairs: It Doesn't Make Sense

Spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, Jodi Mahardi. (Photo: Doc. Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - Several names around President Joko Widodo were mentioned in the case of the crude palm oil (CPO) export permit which will be investigated by the Attorney General's Office (AGO). One of them is the name of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

In response to this, the Spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Jodi Mahardi, said that the issue of exporting crude palm oil or CPO had nothing to do with Luhut. This is because export permits for these commodities are not under the ministry led by Luhut.

"The CPO export permit is not under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment. So linking it to Mr. Luhut doesn't make sense", he told VOI, Sunday, April 24.

As is known, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) is investigating a case of alleged corruption in the granting of a CPO export permit facility and its derivatives.

In this case, several names of President Joko Widodo were mentioned. This speculation emerged from the testimony of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes at the AGO, Febrie Adriansyah.

This is because there is a link between the company of the Coordinating Minister for Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and the sponsor of the Persis Solo football club, which is owned by the President Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.

"We will make summons if there is a connection with evidence and case construction", said Febrie, at a press conference, Friday, April 23.

Febrie also ensured that the AGO could summon several witnesses who had qualifications in the CPO export corruption crime at the Ministry of Trade.

"The qualification for Corruption has made the community difficult. During the process of proving the alleged article, several people were examined as witnesses, not only at the Ministry of Trade but outside the Ministry of Trade, or experts or the private sector", said Febrie.

He also ensured that the Attorney General's Office would conduct a professional investigation and trace the parties suspected of being involved in the CPO export case.

"Professional actions of investigators in the process of seeking information from witnesses, searches, or coercive efforts from witnesses' links to other parties", he said.

In this CPO export case, the Attorney General's Office has named 4 people as suspects. One of them is the Director-General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade with the initials IWW.

The other three people are from the private sector. First, the Commissioner of PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia with the initials MPT. Then the Permata Hijau Group (PHG) Senior Manager Corporate Affairs with the initials SMA, and the three General Managers at PT Musim Mas with the initials PT.