Auditor Claims Foreign National's Appointment as Expert in Defence Satellite Case Violates Regulations
Retired Rear Admiral TNI Leonardi, former Head of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Facilities Agency and the commitment-making official (PPK), along with US citizen Thomas Anthony Van der Heyden, faced indictment proceedings today in the alleged case of the satellite procurement project for the 123 degrees East Longitude orbital slot at the Ministry of Defence from 2012 to 2021. The auditor revealed that the appointment of Thomas Van der Heyden as an expert for the Ministry of Defence violated regulations.
“That the Second Defendant, Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, has unlawfully committed actions or deeds as an expert, even though it is known that an expert must be appointed by a legitimate PPK,” the auditor stated while reading the indictment at the Jakarta High Military Court in East Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).
Meanwhile, in this case, the PPK Leonardi was stated by the auditor to have never been appointed as PPK in 2016. That year was when Leonardi appointed Thomas as an expert.
“That the First Defendant, retired Rear Admiral TNI Ir Leonardi, MSc, in 2016 was never appointed as PPK, thus unlawfully as regulated in Article 8 paragraph (1) letter c of Presidential Regulation Number 54 of 2010 on Procurement of Goods and Services, namely: Paragraph (1) The PA has the following duties and authorities: c. appoint PPK,” he said.
The auditor stated that the appointment of Thomas violated Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 54 of 2010 on Procurement of Goods and Services. Several articles within that Perpres were said to have been violated.
“Article 96 paragraph 6 states ‘The use of foreign experts whose expertise is not yet available in Indonesia must be prepared based on actual needs and planned efforts to maximise the transfer of expertise to Indonesian workers,’” the auditor said.
“Article 21 paragraph 1 letter b states ‘In cases where the nature and scope of the Goods/Services Procurement activity is too broad, or the type of expertise required to complete the activity cannot be handled by one Goods/Services Provider, then in the implementation of Goods/Services Procurement: b. opportunities are given that allow Goods/Services Providers or consortia of Goods/Services Providers to use foreign experts.’ Six, Article 21 paragraph 2 states ‘The foreign experts as referred to in paragraph (1) letter b are used as long as necessary to meet the needs of expertise types not yet possessed and to enhance technical capabilities to handle activities or work,’” he continued.
The auditor also stated that the appointment of Thomas contravened Ministry of Defence Regulation Number 17 of 2014 on the Implementation of Procurement of Main Weapon System Equipment in the Ministry of Defence and Indonesian National Armed Forces Environment. Several articles were also said to have been violated by Thomas.
“Article 70 paragraph (3) states ‘The use of foreign experts whose expertise is not yet available in Indonesia must be prepared based on actual needs and planned efforts to maximise the transfer of expertise to Indonesian workers,’” he said.
It is known that the two defendants who were examined have been charged with causing harm to the state of USD 21.3 million or Rp 306.8 billion. This figure is broken down from the total principal and interest payments that must be paid.
“That as a result of the actions of the First Defendant, retired Rear Admiral TNI Ir. Leonardi, M.Sc., together with the Second Defendant Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, and Mr. Gabor Kuti Szilard (based on the Audit Results Report of BPKP Central Jakarta Year 2022 Number PE.03.03/SR-067/D5/02/2022 dated 12 August 2022), it has caused a state financial loss of US$21,384,851.89 or Rp 306,829,854,917.72 as of 15 December 2021,” the auditor stated.
In addition to Leonardi and Thomas, Navayo International AG CEO Gabor Kuti Szilard was also on trial today. However, Gabor did not attend the trial or was tried in absentia because Gabor himself is still on the wanted persons list (DPO).