TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that his initial claim of suspicious transaction amounting to Rp 349 trillion revealed by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) leads to a possible money laundering scheme, which he deems much hazardous than corruption.

"Money laundering is much more dangerous. Corruption on the other hand. If I take Rp1 billion, I would end up in jail, and that would be the end of it. But how about the money that is wired to my wife? That is the aspect being investigated by the PPATK. How about the company under her name?” said Mahfud at his office on Monday, March 20, 2023.

The coordinating minister argues that unveiling and solving corruption would be less challenging than revealing acts of money laundering, as the latter would require a lengthy period and involve numerous people in the effort to stop it.

As previously reported, Mahfud Md announced that he received the latest report from PPATK regarding suspicious transactions carried out by state civil apparatus. The initial number he mentioned was Rp 300 trillion, now he claims this number has increased to Rp 349 trillion worth of money laundering.

Mahfud also said those behind it could possibly be enacted by people outside the boundaries of the Finance Ministry.

"Once again, this is not exclusively related to employees at the Finance Ministry," said Mahfud.

Suspicious transactions between civil apparatus’ went under the spotlight after a case involving Rafael Alun Trisambodo. The former Finance Ministry’s Directorate General of Taxes Official was exposed to owning assets that have been considered to be unrealistic for someone with his level of income.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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