Ebenezer Trial: Witness Ordered to Open Account and Purchase 300 Grams of Gold
Deka Perdanawan, Operational Director of PT Delta Indonesia, testified that he was ordered by defendant Subhan to open a bank account to receive proceeds from the extortion of occupational safety and health (K3) certificates. He disclosed this during proceedings in the case of alleged extortion of K3 certifications from the Ministry of Labour (Kemnaker) involving former Deputy Minister of Labour Noel Ebenezer at the Central Jakarta District Court for Corruption Offences on Monday (2 March).
Deka revealed that he was directly instructed by Subhan to open a bank account in June 2017, which would subsequently be handed over to him. “Then for the BCA account ending in 5938, that’s Pak Subhan’s,” the public prosecutor stated while reading the examination report. “Then he ordered, ‘You open a personal account’, the ATM card and token will be held by Pak Subhan,” Deka responded.
Deka stated that he was asked to make an initial deposit of approximately Rp50 million. The prosecutor explained to Deka that the account in his name was used to receive extortion proceeds. “Then did you know that your account was used to receive deposits from other K3 consultants?” the prosecutor asked. “I didn’t know at first, sir,” Deka answered. “Then you found out?” “After this case,” Deka replied.
From the beginning, the ATM card and token were handed directly to Subhan, so Deka never checked the account and did not know about the funds flowing in and out of the account in his name. “To your account number 5938 in the name of Deka Perdanawan Rudianto, used by Pak Subhan, do you know the total that went in?” the prosecutor asked. “I don’t know the total that came in, sir,” Deka answered.
Additionally, Deka also testified that he was ordered by defendant Subhan to purchase gold. Deka explained that the money to purchase gold came from extortion proceeds held in the account under his name. “He ordered me to buy precious metals,” Deka disclosed. Deka revealed that this order was given when he was invited to Subhan’s house. “At his house, then I was ordered to take the ATM, I don’t know why, then I was ordered to buy some precious metals,” he said.
Deka stated that Subhan ordered him to purchase 300 grams of gold in 100-gram bars. “He ordered you to buy precious metals, how much?” the prosecutor asked. “300 grams, sir,” Deka answered. After the gold was purchased, Subhan asked Deka to keep it temporarily, saying it would be needed later. “He ordered me to hold it first, sir, he said,” Deka added. “Yes, I’ll let you know when I need it,” Deka quoted Subhan as saying.
In this case, Subhan and others are accused of extortion related to K3 certification procedures amounting to Rp6.5 billion. The defendants are alleged to have unlawfully abused their authority regarding the issuance and renewal of occupational safety and health (K3) certificates and licences. Noel Ebenezer is also accused of receiving gratification totalling Rp3.365 billion and a dark blue Ducati Scrambler motorcycle, given by civil servants from the Ministry of Labour and private parties.