KPK Will Investigate 'Madam' In Bansos Case For Bansos COVID-19 Through Witnesses

Acting Spokesperson for the Corruption Eradication Committee Ali Fikri (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it would investigate a party called 'madam' in the bribery case for the provision of social assistance (bansos) COVID-19. The case against former Social Minister (Mensos) Juliari Peter Batubara.

The term madam appeared in the Koran Tempo report published on Tuesday, January 19. According to the report, the madam's summons referred to a high-ranking PDI-P official.

"In principle, all information that develops will certainly be confirmed to the witnesses," said Acting KPK spokesman for Enforcement Ali Fikri when contacted by VOI, Monday, January 25.

However, unfortunately Ali has not been able to specify who the figure referred to as 'madam'. It's just that, he said, his party would explore all of this through witnesses.

These witnesses will later be summoned and the KPK ensures that those who are summoned are the parties suspected of knowing the series of bribery cases in the procurement of social assistance.

As for the investigation report conducted by Koran Tempo, it was stated that a number of PDI-P politicians were involved in the provision of social assistance. PDIP is said to have received a quota of 1.3 million social assistance packages.

Previously reported, in this case, the KPK also named four other suspects besides Juliari Batubara. They are the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) at the Ministry of Social Affairs Matheus Joko Santoso (MJS) and Adi Wahyono (AW) as well as Ardian Iskandar Maddanatja (AIM) and Harry Van Sidabukke (HS) respectively from the private sector.

In this case, Juliari is suspected of receiving a bribe worth Rp. 17 billion from the fee for procuring basic food social assistance for people affected by COVID-19 in Jabodetabek.

Regarding the investigation of this case, the KPK has conducted searches in several places. From this search, the KPK then secured evidence such as cell phones and a number of documents allegedly related to this case.