KPK Names Suspects in Alleged Corruption at Minerals and Coal DG
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27 March 2023 22:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) launched an investigation into an alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). More than one suspect has been named in the case.
The anti-graft commission's spokesperson Ali Fikri said that the corruption case is related to the employees' performance allowance at the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal. Ali asserted that state losses are estimated to reach hundreds of billions.
“We are sure that there is more than one suspect, and this is related to the cut of the performance allowance amounting to around tens of billions,” said Ali on Monday, March 27, 2023, at the KPK's Merah Putih Building, Jakarta.
Ali explained that the funds were used for personal gains, such as the purchase of assets and operational use including for the inspection process by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
"But we are still investigating the information on where the money allegedly flows from the cut of the employees' performance allowance in 2020 to 2022," Ali said.
In addition to the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, Ali said that the investigation team also conducted searches in other places. "Earlier, [we search] the ESDM Ministry’s Directorate General of Minerals and Coal office, now based on the latest information, [the team] is going to the ESDM office on Jalan Merdeka,” Ali explained.
ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif confirmed that there were allegations of corruption in the employees’ performance allowances after the KPK searched the office of the Minerals and Coal Directorate General. The search was carried out today while Arifin was attending a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
“Yes, there are allegations [of corruption], but we do not justify the corruption acts,” said Arifin at the Palace, Monday, March 27.
Arifin did not provide much explanation when asked whether there had been indications of corruption in his ministry. Instead, he asked the public to wait for the KPK's statement. "Let's just follow the ongoing process," Arifin said.
MIRZA BAGASKARA | FAJAR PEBRIANTO
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