Auditor Reveals Defendant Initiated Satellite Project Despite Absence from 2015 MoD Budget
Auditors have revealed irregularities in the case of procuring a satellite for the 123° East orbital slot at the Ministry of Defence in 2015. The auditors stated that the project was initiated despite the Ministry having no procurement plans for a satellite that year.
“The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, based on the Budget Implementation List (DIPA) for the 2015 Fiscal Year, had no budget for activities related to the procurement of a satellite, ground segment, and its supports funded from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN),” said the auditor while reading the indictment at the Jakarta High Military Court, East Jakarta, on Tuesday (31/3/2026).
The auditor mentioned that 2015 was the year when defendant Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Leonardi appointed defendant Thomas Van Der Heyden as an Expert Staff. Discussions on the satellite project reportedly began in that year.
“On 26 June 2015, at the Meeting Room of the Directorate General of Defence Forces, witness Rear Admiral TNI Agus Purwoto, as Director General of Defence Forces of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia. Defendant-II Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, together with witness Surya Cipta Witoelar, made a presentation which essentially stated that in October 2015, there would be an emergency condition for the 123° BT orbital slot and L-Band frequency, as well as the rescue measures taken, primarily by filling a new satellite in the 123° orbital slot,” he said.
“Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, who frequently presented on the emergency of the 123° BT orbital slot and L-Band frequency, led witness Agus Purwoto, as Director General of Defence Forces, to recommend Defendant II Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden to Defendant I Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Ir Leonardi, MSc, to become Expert Staff at the Ministry of Defence. Subsequently, Defendant I Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Ir Leonardi, MSc, issued Decree of the Head of the Defence Facilities Agency of the Ministry of Defence Number: KEP/511/XI/2015 dated 11 November 2015 on the Appointment of Expert Staff in the Field of Satellites for the Procurement of GSO Satellite 123° BT to appoint Defendant II Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden as Expert Staff at the Ministry of Defence without verifying the expertise of Defendant-II,” he continued.
The auditor stated that procuring the satellite without a budget violated several regulations. The auditor said the law prohibits procuring projects if the budget is not available.
“Law Number 1 of 2004 on the State Treasury, Article 3 paragraph (3) which reads as follows: ‘Every official is prohibited from taking actions that result in expenditures charged to the APBN/APBD if the budget to finance such expenditures is not available or insufficient,’” said the auditor.
“Article 2 paragraph (1) of Minister of Defence Regulation No. 17 of 2014 on the Implementation of Procurement of Main Weapon System Equipment in the Environment of the Ministry of Defence and the Indonesian National Army: ‘The scope of this Minister’s Regulation covers the procurement of TNI Alutsista funded in part or in full from the APBN,’” he added.
It is known that the two defendants on trial have been charged with causing a state loss of USD 21.3 million or Rp 306.8 billion. This figure is derived from the total principal and interest payments that must be made.
“As a result of the actions of Defendant I Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Ir Leonardi, MSc, together with Defendant II Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, and Mr. Gabor Kuti Szilard (based on the Audit Result Report of BPKP Central Jakarta 2022 Number PE.03.03/SR-067/D5/02/2022 dated 12 August 2022), it has caused a state financial loss of USD 21,384,851.89 or Rp 306,829,854,917.72 as of 15 December 2021,” said the auditor.
CEO of Navayo International AG, Gabor Kuti Szilard, was also on trial today. However, Gabor did not attend the trial or was tried in absentia because Gabor is still listed as a wanted person (DPO).