PDIP's Dede Supports Kortas Tipikor in Investigating Coal Corruption, Calls for Inter-Agency Synergy

Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR), Dede Indra Permana Soediro, has expressed support for the Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor) in investigating alleged corruption in the fulfilment of coal supplies, which is suspected to have caused blackouts in Sumatra. Dede called on all law enforcement officers to support one another in probing this case. Dede stressed that every legal case under public scrutiny must be handled professionally, proportionally, and in accordance with prevailing legal norms. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and give space for law enforcement officers to work based on the law, evidence, and applicable procedures. “In principle, we support law enforcement. However, the handling must certainly be carried out in accordance with norms, laws, and prevailing regulations,” Dede told reporters on Thursday (9/7/2026). Dede also noted that the positive achievements of the National Police in recent times are the result of the institution’s hard work in maintaining performance, public trust, and a positive image in the eyes of society. According to him, this trust was not easily built and must be maintained through transparent and accountable law enforcement measures. “The positive achievements of the National Police are a reflection of various good things, both in terms of performance and the positive image that has been built. This is not easy and must be maintained,” he asserted. Therefore, Dede conveyed his support for the Police’s Kortas Tipikor to continue prioritising the principles of law enforcement in handling cases that are in the public spotlight. He also expressed hope that all law enforcement officers would respect each other’s authority to maintain synergy in eradicating corruption. “We support the Police’s Kortas Tipikor in prioritising the principles of law enforcement in handling this issue. We also hope that all agencies, especially law enforcement officers, can respect one another to create strong synergy in eradicating corruption,” Dede said. The PDIP politician assessed that the case must be taken seriously because it concerns very broad public interests. Moreover, this case is said to be related to alleged disruptions in coal supply that resulted in power outages or blackouts in several regions of Indonesia. “The government must ensure that coal supplies remain adequate to meet domestic needs. Do not let the basic needs of the community and economic activities be disrupted due to energy supply issues,” Dede stated. According to Dede, electricity is a strategic necessity that supports households, industry, public services, health facilities, education, transportation, and community economic activities. Therefore, disruptions to primary energy supplies such as coal can have a direct impact on public services and national economic productivity. “The state must ensure that domestic needs are not overridden by other interests. If there is a supply obligation for national needs, then it must be carried out with discipline and strictly supervised,” he stressed. Dede encouraged the National Police and other law enforcement officers to supervise and take action if any suspected misappropriation, manipulation, or unlawful acts are found that caused the disruption of coal supplies and resulted in blackouts in several regions. “The National Police and law enforcement officers need to supervise and take action if there are suspected misappropriations or unlawful acts that resulted in coal supply shortages and blackouts in several regions of Indonesia,” he said. Furthermore, Dede requested that the investigation into the alleged coal corruption case not only stop at the criminal process but also become a momentum for evaluating national energy governance. “Most importantly, the state must be present. Law enforcement must proceed, but at the same time, energy supply governance must also be improved so that the public does not become victims,” Dede added. It is known that the police are currently conducting a series of law enforcement actions related to several cases. One of them is a search of a café in Cipete related to several cases, including the alleged coal corruption that caused blackouts in the Sumatra region. The Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Budhi Hermanto, stated that the search was conducted jointly with the Police’s Kortas Tipikor. The case has drawn the attention of President Prabowo Subianto. “This is related to the alleged corruption in the PLN coal blackout, ASABRI, and Krakatau Steel. This is the President’s attention for alleged corruption cases to be a focus for the Police to conduct disclosure and investigation processes,” Budhi said in Cipete, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/7). The Head of the Police’s Kortas Tipikor, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, mentioned that this case is being handled jointly, or as a joint investigation, with the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Metro Jaya Regional Police. He said these cases are related to alleged corruption in coal procurement that triggered blackouts, the ASABRI case, and a debt settlement case from PT CBS to PT KNI, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned enterprise Krakatau Steel. “Currently, the Police’s Kortas is conducting a joint investigation scheme with the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Metro Jaya Regional Police in handling corruption and money laundering cases in the legal process for the PLN coal case, then ASABRI for the years 2020 to 2025, and the alleged corruption case in the debt settlement process of PT CBS to PT KNI for the years 2020-2025,” he said.