Palembang, KOTABARI.COM – The prosecutors from the Special Crimes Division of the South Sumatra Attorney General’s Office (Kejati Sumsel) have taken further steps in the investigation of an alleged corruption case related to the construction of Cinde Market, which took place between 2016 and 2018. On this day, Thursday, three key witnesses who are believed to possess crucial information in this case were questioned.
Vanny Yulia Eka Sari, the Head of Public Relations of Kejati Sumsel, confirmed that all three summoned witnesses were present to provide their testimonies. The witnesses include MFT, who serves as the Director of Magna Beatum, ALT, the Commissioner of PT Magna Beatum, and RY, a representative from PT Magna Beatum. Their testimonies are expected to provide vital information to strengthen the evidence in the ongoing investigation of this corruption case.
Since the initiation of the investigation by Kejati Sumsel into the stalled construction of Cinde Market, several witnesses have been summoned to provide statements to the investigators. In previous interrogations, four witnesses were questioned on Monday, July 31, 2023. They were BK, the former Head of Asset Management of the South Sumatra Regional Finance and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD Sumsel), AA, the former Subdivision Head of Asset Utilization at BPKAD Sumsel, AP, the former Subdivision Head of Asset Utilization at BPKAD Sumsel, and EDS, the Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) in Palembang in 2019.
Further interrogations of these three witnesses were conducted on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, as part of the investigators’ efforts to gather all necessary information for the case. Subsequently, on Monday, August 7, 2022, Kejati Sumsel questioned Basyaruddin Akhmad, the Head of the Housing and Settlement Department (Perkim) in South Sumatra. Then, on Tuesday, August 8, 2022, the investigators interviewed AK, the Head of BPKAD in Palembang, and SA, the former Head of the Regional Tax Management Agency (BPPD) in Palembang from 2018 to 2021.
On Monday, August 14, 2023, it was the turn of two officials from the Palembang City Government to be questioned: HK, the Head of the Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) in Palembang, and PM, the Head of the Property Tax and Transfer of Rights Agency (PBB and BPHTB) in Palembang.
In a related development regarding the Cinde Market construction project, the South Sumatra Provincial Government has officially terminated the contract with PT Magna Beatum Aldiron Plaza Cinde. The construction project, with a budget of Rp 330 billion, began in June 2018. However, due to various reasons, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project remained stalled without significant progress.
Dozens of Cinde Market traders who had invested in purchasing units, stalls, or booths in Cinde Market incurred substantial losses due to the project’s long-standing suspension, amounting to a total of Rp 8.4 billion. They have submitted letters to various authorities, including the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Chief of the National Police, the Governor of South Sumatra, and prominent lawyer Hotman Paris SH, seeking justice for their losses.
The controversy surrounding the Cinde Market or Aldiron Plaza construction project continues, and the public awaits clarity regarding the fate of the project and compensation for the victims. The ongoing investigation is expected to uncover the truth behind this case and ensure that those responsible are held accountable according to the applicable laws.