Japto's Legal Team Clarifies Assets Seized by KPK in Alleged Corruption Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that Pemuda Pancasila (PP) Chairman Japto Soerjosoemarno controls a number of assets believed to be the proceeds of corruption involving former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari and three corporations. This suspicion was investigated by KPK investigators during an examination on Tuesday (30/6), where Japto was questioned as a witness. Responding to this, Japto’s lawyer, Achmad Cholidin, has spoken out. In this case, the KPK has recently named three coal companies in Kutai Kartanegara as suspects, one of which is PT Alamjaya Barapratama (ABP), which has a cooperation agreement with PT Pratama Andasan Persada (PAP). Cholidin stated that Japto is the President Commissioner of PT PAP. During Tuesday’s examination, Cholidin explained that KPK investigators confirmed details regarding assets suspected to originate from corruption involving PT ABP. ‘The matters asked to Mr Japto were related to deepening the information on the origins of the cars and money that the KPK has seized,’ he said when contacted via written message on Wednesday (1/7). ‘Specifically, Mr Japto was asked for information regarding PT ABP only, which has been named a corporate suspect,’ he continued. Cholidin asserted that Japto was unaware that the assets seized by the KPK were connected to the alleged corruption case. ‘He did not know because the contract was handled by the director of PT PAP and the director of PT ABP, and PT PAP carried out its work professionally,’ he said. He emphasised that the relationship between PT ABP and PT PAP is a cooperation in the fields of security and community relations. ‘The relationship with Mr Japto is that PT ABP has a cooperation agreement in the fields of security, social conflict, and community relations with PT PAP, where Mr Japto serves as the president commissioner,’ Cholidin stated. Previously, the KPK suspected Japto of controlling a number of assets believed to be the proceeds of corruption involving former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari and three corporations. ‘There is an allegation that the assets in JPT’s control, which were subsequently seized, are related to the alleged receipt of gratuities by the suspects,’ said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed via written message on Wednesday. ‘We interpret the seizure of these assets not only for the evidentiary process in this case but also for asset recovery at an early stage,’ he continued. The assets include cash in rupiah and foreign currency worth Rp56 billion, 11 cars (including a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Benz, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Coldis, and Suzuki), as well as documents and electronic evidence. ‘These assets are suspected to be related to business processes in coal governance in Kutai Kartanegara,’ Budi said.