Nasional, KOTABARI.COM – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has exposed a major scandal involving alleged corruption in the distribution of social assistance rice (BSB) to beneficiary families and the Family Hope Program (PKH) of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2020. This revelation was announced in a press conference held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, by the Deputy Chairman of the KPK, Alexander Marwata, and Ali Fikri, the Head of Public Relations.
According to information received by Kotabari.com, the investigation began based on public complaints and involved the collection of information and data that led to suspicions of criminal activities. After sufficient evidence was gathered, the KPK escalated the case to the investigation stage and designated six individuals as suspects in the case.
The suspects are Muhammad Kuncoro Wibowo (MKW), the President Director of PT BGR Persero from 2018 to 2021, Budi Susanto (BS), the Commercial Director of PT BGR Persero from 2018 to 2021, April Churniawan (AC), Vice President of Operations of PT BGR Persero from 2018 to 2021, Ivo Wongkaren (IW), the Director of Mitra Energi Persada (MEP) and Advisor to PT Primalayan Teknologi Persada (PTP), Roni Ramdani (RR), Advisor to PT PTP, and Richard Cahyanto (RC), General Manager of PT PTP and Director of PT Envio Global Persada (EGP).
During the investigation process, Suspects IW, RR, and RC were taken into custody by the Investigative Team for the initial 20 days, starting from August 23, 2023, until September 11, 2023, at the KPK Detention Center.
Based on the investigation, several violations are suspected to have occurred:
- PT BGR Bhanda Ghara Reksa, a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) in the logistics sector, operates with 20 branch offices across Indonesia.
- In the 2018-2021 period, MKW served as the President Director of PT BGR Persero, BS as the Commercial Director of PT BGR Persero, and AC as the VP of Operations of PT BGR Persero.
- In August 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs sent a letter to PT BGR for an audience regarding the budget for BSB distribution.
- During this audience, BS presented PT BGR’s readiness to distribute social assistance rice in 19 provinces.
- For distribution preparations, AC sought a consulting partner.
- IW and RR offered their services through PT PTP as consulting partners without a clear selection process.
- PT BGR was chosen by the Ministry of Social Affairs as the distributor of BSB, with a contract value of IDR 326 billion.
- PT PTP, owned by RC, was unilaterally selected as the consulting partner without a proper selection process.
- Documents were backdated to create the impression that PT PTP had been involved from the beginning.
- An amount of IDR 151 billion was paid to PT PTP, and some of it was subsequently withdrawn without a connection to the BSB distribution.
The suspects’ actions are believed to have violated various regulations, including BUMN regulations and Good Corporate Governance principles, resulting in state losses of approximately IDR 127.5 billion. The suspects are also alleged to have personally gained around IDR 18.8 billion from the scandal.
The KPK has charged the suspects under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes. The case will be further investigated by the investigative team to uncover all facts and the involvement of related parties.