Former Transport Minister Budi Karya Testifies in DJKA Medan Corruption Case Trial, Here is His Statement

The continuation of the trial for the alleged corruption case involving the construction and maintenance of railway lines under the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) of the Ministry of Transport was held at the Medan District Court. In the proceedings, the Public Prosecutor presented several witnesses from state officials and related parties. One of the witnesses providing testimony was the former Minister of Transport, Budi Karya Sumadi, who attended the trial virtually. In his statement, Budi Karya conveyed that he never gave any instructions or orders to anyone to collect funds related to political interests. He emphasised that all such accusations do not match what he knows. “I never ordered such a thing. There was no directive for fund collection,” he said before the panel of judges. This trial is part of the legal process for the alleged corruption in the railway line projects in the Medan area during the 2021–2024 period. The case involves several defendants, including Muhlis Hanggani Capah as the Commitment Making Official (PPK) and Eddy Kurniawan Winarto from the private sector. The case previously drew attention from the Corruption Eradication Commission, which has named several suspects related to alleged tender manipulations. Meanwhile, criminal law expert from Trisakti University, Abdul Fickar Hadjar, views the presence of witnesses, including the former Transport Minister, as an important part of the proof process in the trial. According to him, by attending virtually as a witness, Budi Karya has shown a cooperative attitude towards law enforcement, so his statement can sufficiently clarify the issues, even though he is not a witness in the case investigation report (BAP), but it demonstrates the individual’s willingness to serve as a witness. Budi Karya’s presence also helps the panel of judges in assessing the legal facts revealed in the trial. The trial will continue with the examination of other witnesses to further explore the facts related to the case.