Question Mark For 2020 Bansos Rice Buried In Depok

The discovery of a pile of social assistance rice in the ground shocked the residents. The location of the discovery is an empty area that JNE usually uses for parking in the Tirtajaya sub-district, Sukmajaya, Depok City. (VOI/Wahyu Arif Hidayat)

JAKARTA - On Friday (29/7), a Depok resident named Rudi Samin found a pile of rice sacks for social assistance (bansos) buried 3 meters deep in his land located at KSU Field, Sukmajaya, Depok City. The amount is estimated to reach 1 container.

He knew there was a pile of rice on his land from former JNE employees' information.

“Then, I looked for it using heavy equipment. We found it for three days," he told VOI, Tuesday (2/8).

According to Rudi, it was social assistance rice because there were several sacks that read 'presidential aid rice'. Allegedly it has been buried for 2 years.

"There are sacks of 20 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg and there is the Beraskita brand. Other basic necessities were also found, but their condition was already rotten,” said Rudi again.

Rudi Samin, a resident and land owner who unloads a pile of social assistance rice in the ground in Depok. (VOI/Wahyu Arif Hidayat)

In the last 9 years, added Rudi, the area of 6000 square meters has indeed been used illegally by JNE for company purposes, especially as a parking lot.

"The JNE has collaborated with elements of the TNI from about 9 years ago, without paying, without permission, and now it is used to store basic necessities, presidential aid. I will report this," said Rudi.

The Sukmajaya sub-district head, Ferry Wibowo, also did not know about the existence of the social assistance rice pile. According to Ferry, the stockpiling location is a busy location. If there is heavy equipment in, of course, residents will see.

"But I also didn't think there was the hoarding of rice buried in the ground. What is certain is that the police are currently investigating," said Ferry briefly to VOI, Tuesday (2/8).

Indonesian Government Response

Deputy for the Coordination of Social Welfare Improvement at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Andie Megantara admitted that the rice found was the presidential aid in 2020. It may have come from the distribution of the presidential ban in stages 2 and 4 of 2020.

“The rice is already in a condition that is not fit to eat because it was damaged by travel. Thus destroyed or buried. But, if there is a mistake like this, there must be a replacement," Andie said in his statement to reporters, Monday (1/8).

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy assumed that the discovery of the rice hoard had nothing to do with the government. This was because the government did not interfere further with the fate of the damaged rice because according to him it was the responsibility of the transporter.

Muhadjir Effendy, denied the government's involvement in the case of hoarding social assistance rice in Depok. (Antara)

"Whether it is being stockpiled or what, it is their business, it's not the business of the Ministry of Social Affairs, it's not the government's business. Because the damaged rice is very likely to have been replaced," said Muhadjir, quoted from Kompas.com, Tuesday (2/8).

"The question of whether it is thrown away or used as chicken feed or stockpiled, is their business. Whether it's wrong or not, it's also not our business, later let the authorities will investigate," continued Muhadjir.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini did not want to comment much on the pile of social assistance rice. According to Risma, it wasn't during her leadership era. "So what's clear is that it wasn't my era, because when I was a minister, the President had already conveyed, 'Mrs. Risma, don't give aid in the form of goods," Risma said as quoted by Antara, Monday (1/01/2020). 8).

JNE's statement

Through its official statement on Sunday (31/7), JNE also denied that there had been a violation in the process of distributing social assistance from the president with the task of distributing it to the public.

The hoarding, said PT JNE VP of Marketing, Eri Palgunadi, was in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Regarding the news on the findings of social assistance rice in Depok, no violations were committed, because the standard operational process for handling damaged goods has been carried out in accordance with the cooperation agreement that has been agreed by both parties," explained Eri.

Beraskita, rice produced by the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) which was used as social assistance for COVID-19 pandemic and some was found buried in Depok. (Bulog)

However, the company is ready to follow the legal process if necessary.

"JNE is always committed to following all applicable legal procedures and provisions if necessary," he said.

Police Call JNE and Ministry of Social Affairs

According to the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police, Grand Commissioner Endra Zulpan, JNE is only a courier who receives a contract from PT DNR as a vendor in charge of distributing social assistance rice to residents according to a list from the government in 2020.

“JNE takes rice from the Bulog warehouse, Pulo Gadung to be distributed to the public. At the time of collection, there were travel disturbances, heavy rain, so the rice was in a damaged condition," said Zulpan in a press statement, Monday (1/8).

JNE has not been able to provide evidence when the rice taken was damaged due to rain. However, Zulpan continued, JNE has provided compensation for damaged goods to the government.

"Because the wet rice has been replaced by JNE with other equivalent packages. We are still investigating this with documents and who gets the rice," said Zulpan.

In addition to JNE, the police have also requested information from the Ministry of Social Affairs, represented by the Director of Social Disaster Victim Protection at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Mira Riyanti.

Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Grand Commissioner Endra Zulpan. (Antara/Fianda Sjofjan Rassat)

The Ministry of Social Affairs, said Zulpan, was not aware of any collaboration between PT DNR as a vendor and JNE. The Ministry of Social Affairs as the person in charge of the distribution program collaborates with Bulog in distributing social assistance rice from the government.

"We will summon several other related parties, including Bulog for questioning," said Zulpan.

The police will also investigate allegations of corruption in the case. "The police's steps will certainly make the administration of investigations into this case. If elements of criminal offenses or corruption are found inside, further proceedings will be carried out," he said. The team also asked Rudi Samin to come to the National Police Headquarters for questioning. "Just checking the location, just the first step," said one of the five members of Food Task Force Team who visited the location, Police Commissioner Samian.

Corruption in the Procurement of Social Assistance 2020

The discovery of the 2020 presidential social assistance rice pile certainly recalls the incident when the KPK succeeded in uncovering a corruption case in the provision of social assistance for handling COVID-19. This case dragged a number of names, one of which was the then social minister, Juliari Peter Batubara.

In an online press conference on December 6, 2020, KPK Chair Firli Bahuri said Juliari received a fee of up to IDR 17 billion from partners. This fee is the result of an agreement with PT RPI, one of the partner companies appointed directly by Matheus and Adi as Commitment Making Officers (PKK).

The fee agreement is IDR 10,000 per social assistance package from a value of IDR 300,000 per social assistance package.

The fee is given in two periods. The first period was IDR 12 billion, which was distributed in cash by Matheus to Juliari through Adi. Of this amount, Juliari allegedly received IDR 8.2 billion.

The fee for the second period from October to December 2020 is around IDR 8.8 billion.

Former Minister of Social Affairs involved in the COVID-19 Social Assistance Corruption case, Juliari Peter Batubara. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)

"It is suspected that the money will also be used for JPB's needs," said Firli.

The KPK said that the social assistance procurement program involved 273 partner contracts.

As is known, in 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs will make a social assistance package program for the people with a value of IDR 600 thousand per family per month. Distributed in two stages in a month with the value of assistance each time the distribution of IDR 300 thousand per family. The social assistance package contains 10 types of goods: instant noodles, corned beef, sardines, chili sauce, sweet soy sauce, milk, cooking oil, tea bags, bath soap, and rice.

Until now, the KPK is still developing the case for the Ministry of Social assistance procurement.

"Investigation activities are still ongoing, so we cannot convey the material at this time," said Ali Fikri to VOI, Monday (1/8).