Defendant in Ministry of Defence Satellite Case to File Exception, Claims No Harm to the State

Former Head of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Facilities Agency and Committing Officer (PPK), Retired Rear Admiral TNI Leonardi, will file an exception against the indictment from the prosecutor. Leonardi is accused of causing a state loss of Rp 306.8 billion in the alleged case of the satellite procurement project for the orbital slot at 123 degrees East Longitude at the Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) from 2012 to 2021.

“Yes, our legal counsel will file the exception later,” said Leonardi to reporters at the Jakarta High Military Court in East Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

Leonardi denies the accusation of causing harm to the state as stated by the prosecutor. He claims that the state has not spent any money to date.

“Now, furthermore, based on the examination results earlier, the examination report by BPKP states that the state lost Rp 306 billion. Until now, the state has not paid, hasn’t paid anything. Nothing is missing,” he said.

Leonardi states that he did not receive any money from the satellite procurement. He also questions the status of his trial.

“I did not receive a single penny from this matter. I have been delayed for trial for more than nine months, whereas in other cases, there is no one like me,” he said.

Leonardi hopes that all parties involved in the satellite procurement are also involved. He hopes that the resolution of this case is carried out promptly.

“Everyone must be involved, right? Don’t just me like this. Resolve it now,” he said.

It is known that Leonardi and another defendant, Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, have been indicted for causing a state loss of USD 21.3 million or Rp 306.8 billion. The figure is derived from the total principal and interest payments that must be paid.

“That as a result of the actions of Defendant I Retired Rear Admiral TNI Ir Leonardi, MSc together with Defendant II Thomas Anthony Van Der Heyden, and Mr Gabor Kuti Szilard (based on the Audit Results Report by BPKP Central Jakarta Year 2022 Number PE.03.03/SR-067/D5/02/2022 dated 12 August 2022) 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 prosecutor.

CEO of Navayo International AG Gabor Kuti Szilard was also on trial today. However, Gabor was not present at the trial or tried in absentia because Gabor himself is still listed as a wanted person (DPO).