TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chief Laode Muhammad Syarif said that the agency has named PT DGI (Duta Graha Indah) a suspect in a corporate graft case.

The company has allegedly carried out acts of corruption in a hospital project at Udayana University for the fiscal year 2009-2010. Laode said that PT DGI allegedly caused Rp25 billion in state losses in the Rp138 billion project. “The basis is that companies can be used to cover crimes or make a profit from acts of crime,” Laode said at his office yesterday.

Laode said that PT DGI has been charged over alleged fraudulent owner estimate, an irregular auction that was won by PT DGI and fund transfer to the company, among others.

PT DGI is the first company to be named as a suspect by the KPK, Laode said.

Laode said that it was a breakthrough move following the enactment of the Supreme Court Regulation No. 13/2016 on Procedure for Handling Corporate Crimes. He expects that it will motivate businessmen to remain clean and professional in their conduct.

The KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah added that the anti-graft agency has questioned 27 witnesses in this case. “Most of whom being employees and officials of PT DGI or NKE,” he said. KNE (Nusa Konstruski Enjineering) is the new name of PT DGI.

Laode said that PT DGI has violated Article 2 (1) or Article 3 of Law No. 31/1999 which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a maximum Rp1 billion in fines.

DANANG FIRMANTO | ANTARA