Boyamin MAKI Highlights Slow Handling of PT PJU CSR Corruption Case

The Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, has highlighted the slow handling of an alleged corruption case concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from PT Petrogas Jatim Utama (PJU) by the Banyuwangi District Prosecutor’s Office. Boyamin expressed surprise that the case, which has been under investigation since 2025, has yet to show significant progress. According to him, irregularities in the distribution of CSR funds should be relatively easy to prove, as the focus of the investigation lies on whether the disbursement aligns with the designated social objectives. “I am disappointed with the handling of this case by the District Prosecutor’s Office. Even the previous official, though still acting in a temporary capacity, had issued an assignment letter to initiate the inquiry,” he told reporters on Tuesday, 9 June. He explained that the misappropriation of CSR funds falls under the category of a criminal corruption offence if proven to have been used for personal gain or for parties affiliated with the fund distributor. CSR funds carry a public interest, as companies benefit from tax reductions on the disbursed amounts. Therefore, he stressed that the misuse of CSR cannot be viewed merely as an administrative issue. “CSR is fundamentally linked to the public interest. If funds that should have been given to the community are misused, then it can be categorised as a criminal act of corruption,” he stated. He compared the handling of this case to several corruption cases managed by law enforcement at the national level. He assessed that the Banyuwangi District Prosecutor’s Office should have been able to elevate the case status to the investigation stage if the evidence was deemed sufficient. He even reminded that public aspirations regarding the case had been conveyed up to the Attorney General’s Office. Consequently, he believes the Banyuwangi Prosecutor’s Office needs to demonstrate seriousness to avoid creating an impression of sluggishness in handling the alleged corruption. Boyamin added that his organisation is also open to pursuing legal action in the form of a pretrial lawsuit should the handling of the case continue to drag on without certainty. “If this case continues to drag on, the people of Banyuwangi also have the right to file a pretrial motion. Because those who are harmed are the community who should have received the benefits of these CSR funds,” he said. Previously, the Banyuwangi District Prosecutor’s Office had issued an Assignment Order to investigate the alleged misappropriation of CSR funds from PT Petrogas Jatim Utama. The process originated from a public complaint submitted by the East Java Komunitas Cinta Bangsa in December 2025. Several witnesses have also been questioned during the initial inquiry phase. To date, the Banyuwangi District Prosecutor’s Office is still handling the investigation into the alleged corruption of CSR funds and the reported abuse of authority related to PT Petrogas Jatim Utama.