Chairman of Pancasila Youth Organisation Directs Journalists to Question KPK on Investigation Details
Jakarta — Japto Soerjosoemarno, Chairman of the National Leadership Council of the Pancasila Youth Organisation, directed journalists at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta to direct their questions to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the details of his examination.
“Ask the investigators then. Why are you asking me?” said Japto at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, after answering a summons as a witness in a suspected graft case involving former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari.
When asked again, Japto emphasised to waiting journalists that they should not question him. “Don’t ask me,” he said.
Upon hearing this response, journalists continued to question Japto. However, he turned the tables by asking them questions. “Where are you from? What media outlet?” he asked. He subsequently asked journalists again to confirm their media outlet. “You’re not one of those that twists things, sensationalises things, are you?” he asked. He continued, “There are so many nowadays who sensationalise. They write anything as news.”
Previously, on 28 September 2017, the KPK named Rita Widyasari, General Director of PT Sawit Golden Prima Hery Susanto Gun, and Commissioner of PT Media Bangun Bersama Khairudin as suspects in a suspected graft case in the Kutai Kartanegara region, East Kalimantan.
Rita was alleged to have received bribes totalling Rp6 billion relating to the grant of a location permit for a palm oil plantation in Kupang Baru Village, Muara Kaman District to PT Sawit Golden Prima.
On 16 January 2018, the KPK named Rita Widyasari together with Khairudin as suspects in a suspected money laundering offence.
On 6 June 2024, the KPK disclosed that it had seized 91 vehicles and various other items of economic value, five plots of land with a total area reaching thousands of square metres, and 30 luxury watches of various brands during the investigation into the case.
On 19 February 2025, the KPK revealed that Rita Widyasari was also alleged to have received millions of US dollars relating to coal mining, at approximately five US dollars per metric tonne of coal.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced three corporations as suspects in a suspected graft case relating to metric tonnes of new coal production in Kutai Kartanegara. These are PT Sinar Kumala Naga (SKN), PT Alamjaya Barapratama (ABP), and PT Bara Kumala Sakti (BKS).