Noel Case: Witness Admits Spending Rp100 Million Annually on Certification Processing

Director of PT Barito Sarana Karya (BSK) Rony Sugiarto admitted to spending approximately Rp100 million per year on non-technical payments to process Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certifications at the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker). The money was handed over when collecting the Safety Operation Permit (SIO).

Rony provided this testimony when presented by KPK prosecutors as a witness in the trial of the defendant, former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, and ten others, at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) of the Central Jakarta District Court (PN), on Monday (6/4).

Rony explained that the handover of non-technical money had been carried out by previous leaders at PT BSK. He admitted to merely continuing that practice.

“Can you explain how this non-technical fee came about?” the prosecutor asked at the outset of the trial.

“What I’ve experienced myself, I continued from the previous leader, sir,” Rony replied.

He recounted that PT BSK initially handed over non-technical money amounting to Rp500,000. Then, the amount was negotiated because PT BSK felt it was too expensive, resulting in Rp250,000 per SIO.

“How is the non-technical money calculated?” the prosecutor asked again.

“The last one was Rp250,000 per SIO,” Rony stated.

“How much before that?” the prosecutor asked.

“As I recall, previously my leader taught me it was initially Rp500,000, after we objected because it was too expensive, it was negotiated down to Rp250,000,” Rony clarified.

He said the money was handed over in cash, and on average, the non-technical money handed over by PT BSK per year amounted to around Rp100 million.

“So, on average, how much did you hand over?” the prosecutor asked.

“If I recall, last year, in one year, sir, the calculation for 2024 as I remember was around Rp100 million,” Rony revealed.

“In 2023?” the prosecutor asked.

“More or less the same, sir,” Rony answered.

Noel’s Indictment

Noel and his associates are indicted for the criminal offence of extortion related to the processing of K3 certifications totalling Rp6.5 billion.

“Forcing a person, namely forcing certification or K3 licence applicants including Fanny Fania Octapiani, Fransisca Xaveriana, Grhadini Lukitasari Tasya, Intan Fitria Permatasari, Muhammad Deny, Nicken Ayu Wulandari, Nur Aisyah Astuti, Octavia Voni Andari, Shalsabila Salu, Sri Enggarwati, as well as other K3 certification or licence applicants to give something, pay, or receive payments with deductions, or to do something for themselves, namely giving money in a total amount of Rp6,522,360,000.00,” stated KPK Prosecutor Asril at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (19/1).

Noel is said to have enriched himself by Rp70,000,000.00.

Meanwhile, Fahrurozi by Rp270,955,000.00; Heru Sutanto Rp652,236,000.00; Subhan Rp326,118,000.00; Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra Rp652,236,000.00; Irvian Bobby Mahendro Rp978,354,000.00; Sekarsari Kartika Putri Rp652,236,000.00; Anitasari Kusumawati Rp326,118,000.00; Supriadi Rp294,063,000.00.

Then Haiyani Rumondang as Director General of Supervision and Occupational Safety and Health (Binwasnaker & K3) from 2020 to April 2024 Rp381,281,000.00; Sunardi Manampiar Sinagar as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 from 2021 to September 2024 Rp288,173,000.00; Chairul Fadhly Harahap as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 from September 2024 to 2025 Rp37,945,000.00.

Furthermore, Ida Rochmawati as Coordinator of the Occupational Safety and Health Quality Management System (SMK3) Field by Rp652,236,000.00; Nila Pratiwi Ichsan as Sub-coordinator of the K3 Institution Quality Assurance Field Rp326,118,000.00; Fitriana Bani Gunaharti as Sub-coordinator of the K3 Institution Quality Standards Compilation Field Rp326,118,000.00.

“In an unlawful manner or by abusing their authority, namely the defendant Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan together with Fahrurozi, Hery Sutanto, Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Irvian Bobby Mahendro, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, and Supriadi, Miki Mahfud, and Temurila have acted unlawfully or abused their authority related to the Issuance and Renewal of Individual Occupational Safety and Health (K3) Certification or Licence for the certification or K3 licence applicants,” the prosecutor revealed.

In addition, Noel is also indicted for receiving gratuities amounting to Rp3,365,000,000.00 and one unit of a blue navy Ducati Scrambler motorcycle.

The money and motorcycle were given by civil servants from the Ministry of Manpower and private parties.

The KPK has developed this alleged extortion case in the processing of K3 certifications by naming three new suspects. They are suspected of receiving flows of money.

The three suspects are Secretary of the Directorate General (Sesditjen) of Supervision, Occupational Safety and Health (Binwasnaker & K3) Chairul Fadly Harahap, former Director General of Binwasnaker & K3 Haiyani Rumondang, and former Head of the Public Relations Bureau of Kemnaker Sunardi Manampiar Sinaga.