KPK Grills Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara
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6 December 2020 17:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has interrogated Social Affairs Minister Juliari Peter Batubara (JPB) and Adi Wahyono (AW), the ministry's Commitment Making Officer (PPK), over alleged bribery case concerning social aid for the Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi) this year.
"JPB as a suspect surrendered himself to the KPK on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at around 2:50 a.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Standard Time)," KPK's acting spokesman Ali Fikri said in a statement on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Adi Wahyono surrendered to the KPK on the same day at 9 a.m. WIB.
"Based on the information that we have received, Sunday, December 6, 2020 at around 9 a.m. WIB, the suspect AW turned himself in before the KPK investigators. Later, the investigation team will grill him," he said.
Juliari Batubara was named a suspect in receiving bribes along with two Commitment Making Officials (PPK) at the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Matheus Joko Santoso (MJS) and Adi Wahyono (AW).
The bribes came from two private parties, Ardian I M (AIM) and Harry Sidabuke (HS).
The KPK suspects that the Minister of Social Affairs received a bribe worth Rp17 billion as "fee" for providing basic food social assistance for people affected by COVID-19 in Jabodetabek.
"In the implementation of the first period of the basic food assistance program, it is suspected that a 'fee' of Rp. 12 billion had been received. MJS had given Rp8.2 billion to JPB via AW," KPK chairman Firli Bahuri told the press at the KPK building, here on early Sunday.
The money was then managed by Eko and Shelvy N, Batubara's trusted people, to be used to pay for his personal needs.
"For the second period of the implementation of the basic food assistance program, 'fee' amounting Rp8.8 billion was collected from October 2020 to December 2020. The money was also allegedly used for JPB's needs," Firli Bahuri said.
Hence, the total bribe that Juliari allegedly received was worth Rp17 billion.
Earlier, KPK detained Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo and four other suspects over an alleged bribery case in permit issuance for aquaculture and/or fishing businesses and marine commodities in 2020.
Also Read: KPK Names Social Minister as Suspect in Covid-19 Social Aid Case
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