Empty Shophouse in Cipete Searched in Connection with Corruption Case

Polda Metro Jaya searched a shophouse in the Cipete area of South Jakarta on Friday related to an alleged corruption case. The shophouse was found to be unoccupied during the raid. “Yes, the shophouse was empty (no one was there),” said Polda Metro Jaya Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, to reporters at the location. Budi stated that police brought in a local resident as a witness to observe the search process. The witness was also shown the search warrant and court order that the police had brought to the location. “Earlier, you could see there was a witness from the local community here to witness that the search process carried out here was conducted with the search warrant and court order having been shown,” he explained. Budi added that this shophouse is the 13th location searched in connection with the alleged corruption case. Polda Metro Jaya is currently still conducting the search together with the National Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor). “This search at the 13th point is part of the series of previous investigative activities. We are witnessing together that a search is still being carried out at a shophouse related to a corruption case handled by a joint investigation from Kortastipidkor and Polda Metro Jaya,” he said. Budi confirmed that the search at this 13th location was a development from witness examinations conducted the previous day. He noted that there is still a possibility of other locations being searched. “From the results of witness statements and case exposés, it means there are still developments at several other points. We may update you all on every activity carried out so that this is very transparent,” Budi added. He did not yet explain which agency or company owns the shophouse being searched. Police forcibly opened the three-storey shophouse by cutting the chain lock with a grinder. “First, we cut the chain, then opened the door. We can see the shophouse has three floors,” he clarified. Budi added that investigators have secured several items, including documents and a computer. However, police have not yet detailed which documents were seized. “We are seeing many documents being secured by investigators, including a computer and other items. We cannot yet identify or inventory everything that has been secured,” he said. Previously, Polda Metro Jaya conducted searches at several locations on Wednesday (8/7), including a money changer and de’Clan Signature Cafe in Cipete, South Jakarta, as well as a house in Bogor, West Java. During those searches, police seized evidence including gold bars and foreign currency worth billions of rupiah. The series of searches is related to the investigation of three alleged corruption cases. The Head of Kortastipidkor, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, stated that the investigations are being handled jointly with the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya. Totok said the cases involve alleged corruption in coal procurement at PLN that triggered a blackout, the ASABRI corruption case, and the settlement of debt from PT CBS to PT KNI, a subsidiary of state-owned enterprise Krakatau Steel.