Jakarta. Social Affairs Minister Juliari Peter Batubara was called a corruption suspect on Sunday for supposedly collecting costs from the Rp 5.9 trillion ($416 million) worth of social assistance plan of the federal government Covid-19 response.
He was the second sitting minister to be apprehended for corruption in less than two weeks, after Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo was detained upon arrival from his Hawaii trip on Nov. 25.
Juliari, 48, turned himself in to the Corruption Removal Commission, or KPK, at around 03.00 a.m. on Sunday and was instantly detained.
KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri stated the minister and his 2 accomplices were alleged to have accepted a minimum of Rp 17 billion ($ 1.2 million) in prohibited fees from business who won agreement to procure and distribute the fundamental commodities bundles for the poor in Jakarta.
Juliari, a senior member with the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Battle (PDI-P), has actually gathered Rp 10,000 from every bundle valued at Rp 300,000, Firli informed a press conference at his workplace in South Jakarta.
Juliari was assisted by two intermediaries identified as Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono, other suspects in the event, he said.
” The charge from every Rp 300,000 social help bundle was set at Rp 10,000 by MJS and AW,” Firli said, describing the middlemen.
Between May and November, both males have represented the Social Affairs Ministry to provide the task to a variety of private professionals and made a deal with them.
The job was carried out at 2 stages.
At the very first phase, Juliari accepted Rp 8.2 billion directed to 2 close assistants, Firli said.
” The cash has actually been used to finance JPB’s personal expenses,” Firli stated of Juliari.
The 2nd stage of social help bundle procurement was carried out in between October and December, from which the minister and his two accomplices have actually gathered Rp 8.8 billion, he included.
Death Sentence
In numerous occasions, Firli has earlier warned against misappropriation of the federal government’s humanitarian help funds, stating that according to the anti-corruption law, that criminal offense could run the risk of a death sentence.
Pushed again about the law, he reacted: “Yes we understand that according to Short article 2 and Area 2 of the Anti-Corruption Law, the criminal offense is punishable by death.”
At least five individuals have been called suspects in the case, consisting of two business owners recognized as Ardian I.M. and Harry Sidabuke.
Four active ministers have been called suspects or convicted of corruption considering that President Joko Widodo took workplace in 2014.
Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi and Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham have actually currently been convicted.
The latter was convicted guilty of corruption unrelated to his ministerial job, while Imam is serving a prison term for accepting bribe while in office.
