The swift action by the Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor)\nof the Indonesian National Police in investigating an alleged corruption\ncase related to coal supply, which led to blackouts in Sumatra and other\nparts of Indonesia, has drawn praise from former Corruption Eradication\nCommission (KPK) deputy chairman Saut Situmorang. Saut stated that the\nimpact of the blackouts has caused a decline in Indonesia\u2019s\ncompetitiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cKortas Tipikor Polri must follow up on this quickly, because amidst\nthis uncertainty and economic turmoil, our competitiveness drops, and\ninvestors become hesitant due to the vulnerability,\u201d Saut told\nreporters, as quoted on Thursday (9\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to Saut, unstable electricity not only disrupts the economy\nbut also has social consequences. This is especially concerning given\nthe current economic uncertainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, the perpetrators must be severely punished. The impact of\nthis electricity issue is not just economic, but also social. It\u2019s a\nmatter of energy governance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Saut explained that Indonesia\u2019s competitiveness ranking fell to 48th\nout of 70 countries, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking\n(WCR) 2026, partly due to the unstable electricity supply. He stressed\nthat the perpetrators must face heavy penalties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe perpetrators must be severely punished. As we know, the IMD\nWorld Competitiveness Ranking dropped us to 48 out of 70, indicating a\ncountry with low competitiveness. Unstable electricity further reduces\nour competitiveness and raises doubts among investors,\u201d Saut said.<\/p>\n
The alleged corruption case concerning the fulfilment of coal supply\nneeds, which triggered blackouts in Sumatra and several other Indonesian\nregions, is being investigated by Kortas Tipikor Polri. The case has now\nadvanced to the investigation stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, the investigators, are providing an update on the handling of\nthe criminal case of corruption and money laundering related to the\nprocurement of coal supply for several coal-fired power plants (PLTU)\nduring the period of 2018 to 2026,\u201d said Head of Kortas Tipikor Polri,\nInspector General Totok Suharyanto, during a press conference at the\nCriminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) Polri on Monday (6\/7).<\/p>\n
The status upgrade to investigation was determined on 4 July 2026.\nTotok stated that investigators had found two companies suspected of\ncommitting legal violations in the coal supply fulfilment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the very least, investigators have found alleged irregularities\nin the procurement and fulfilment of coal supply at the PLTU by several\ninvolved companies: PT OBP and PT BRA,\u201d Totok said.<\/p>\n
Director of Enforcement at Kortas Tipikor Polri, Brigadier General\nRobertus Yohanes De Deo, added that several modus operandi were used by\nthe suspected parties in this case. One of them was document\nmanipulation.<\/p>\n
Investigators also discovered manipulation related to the quantity of\ncoal supplied to the power plants, as well as alleged irregularities\nthat resulted in payments or contract prices not matching the actual or\nreal supply conditions.<\/p>\n
No suspects have been named yet in this alleged corruption case.\nInvestigators have examined 16 witnesses and analysed a number of\ndocuments. The state loss is estimated to reach Rp 5 trillion.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kortas-tipikor-polris-swift-action-in-investigating-coal-corruption-praised-by-former-kpk-leader-1783565558", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }