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

Jakarta - A joint team of investigators from the Indonesian National Police and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is testing the authenticity and purity of 74 gold bars seized as evidence in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption, bribery, gratuities, and money laundering. The Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that the testing process involves the laboratory of state-owned pawnbroker PT Pegadaian. This stage is part of completing the case file and transferring evidence from the investigators to the AGO. “Today, investigators from the joint investigation team, together with prosecutors and Pegadaian, will conduct tests on the evidence of 74 gold bars, equivalent to 74 kilograms,” Budi said in Jakarta on Monday. Meanwhile, the Head of Pegadaian’s Gemology Laboratory Department, Rubika, who was present at the event, confirmed that his team had received the request for testing. Currently, the team is conducting a physical visual inspection of the evidence. “First, we will identify its authenticity. Second, we will determine its qualification, namely its purity and weight. We will deliver the laboratory test results within the next one or two days,” Rubika stated. In addition to the gold bars, the joint investigation team also seized cash evidence in rupiah, US dollars, and Singapore dollars. Regarding the ownership status of the gold, Budi declined 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 we are using external experts for the testing,” he added. The National Police is gradually transferring the administrative files for three corruption cases to the AGO: corruption in coal procurement for a power plant (PLTU); the Asabri and Jiwasraya corruption cases from 2020-2025; and money laundering related to the settlement of debts from PT CBS to PT KNI. “The cases have been transferred to the AGO for further investigation. So, all investigative administration and evidence will be handed over to the Attorney General’s Office in stages for follow-up,” said the Head of Operations for the Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Yusuf Afandi, on Sunday.