Joint Police-AGO Team Tests Authenticity of 74 kg Gold Evidence

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Joint investigators from the police and the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) are testing the authenticity and purity of 74 gold bars seized during a search linked to an investigation into alleged corruption, bribery, gratification and money laundering offences.

Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya, Police Grand Commissioner Budi Hermanto, said the testing process involved the laboratory of PT Pegadaian. The testing stage forms part of completing and transferring the case evidence from investigators to the Attorney General’s Office.

“Today, investigators from the joint investigation, together with investigators from the Attorney General’s Office and Pegadaian, will test the gold evidence totalling 74 bars, equivalent to 74 kilograms,” said Budi in Jakarta on Monday.

Meanwhile, Head of Pegadaian’s Gemology Laboratory Department, Rubika, who attended the activity, confirmed that her side had received the testing request. Currently, the Pegadaian team has only carried out a visual physical examination of the evidence.

“First, we test to identify its authenticity. Second, we determine its qualification, namely its purity and also its weight. We will deliver the laboratory test results within the next one or two days,” said Rubika.

In addition to the gold bars, the joint investigative team also seized evidence in the form of cash in Indonesian rupiah, US dollars (USD) and Singapore dollars (SGD).

Regarding the ownership status of the gold, Budi was not yet willing to provide further details, as it remains part of the ongoing investigation.

“The handover of documents, case files, suspects and evidence will be carried out in stages to the Attorney General’s Office, because external experts are being used for the testing,” he added.

The National Police are transferring the administrative files of three corruption cases to the Attorney General’s Office in stages: corruption in coal procurement for steam power plants (PLTU); corruption at Asabri and Jiwasraya between 2020 and 2025; and money laundering in the settlement of debts owed by PT CBS to PT KNI.

“The cases have been transferred to the Attorney General’s Office for the investigation to continue. So, all investigation administration and evidence will be handed over to the Attorney General’s Office in stages for follow-up,” said Head of Operations at the Police Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor), Police Grand Commissioner Ahmad Yusuf Afandi, to reporters in Jakarta on Sunday (12/7).

In addition to the files, he said the transfer of suspects would also be carried out in stages.