Chromebook Trial: LKPP Deputy Remarks That Officials Deserve KPK Sting Operations

JAKARTA - The Deputy for Law and Dispute Resolution at the Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP), Setya Budi Arijanta, admitted he is not surprised that several officials have been ensnared in Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) sting operations (OTT). He made this statement when asked for his opinion as an expert in the continuation of the trial in the alleged corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. Initially, he expressed concern that many regional officials have been caught in KPK OTTs due to problematic procurement processes. “Even last Ramadan, there were three heads of regions caught in OTTs,” he said. Setya explained that for the past five years, LKPP has been monitoring the procurement of goods and services down to the regional level. The monitoring results show that Indonesia’s procurement competition index is very poor. Setya said that many producers or product owners are not included in the e-catalogue, so the products purchased come from the same or repeated parties. “For example, in construction, the number of contractors in Regional Government A is in the thousands. I’m concerned that only six are listed in the catalogue. There are even cases with only one,” he said. Currently, the competition index shows an average of six producers entering for one item. LKPP considers this value poor, and he is not surprised that officials handling procurement end up being nabbed by the KPK. Setya also admitted to often reprimanding regional officials if their competition index only scores 6. “As the procurement supervisor, I reprimand them, sir. The first warning is in January-February. Then four months later, I issue another official letter, sir. No change, sir, we issue the third letter. I forward it to the inspectorate, and finally to law enforcement authorities (APH). To be honest,” said Setya. The low competition index can lead to overpriced products in the procurement process.