Pemuda Pancasila Chair Questioned by Anti-Corruption Commission Over Mining Security Payments

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has concluded its questioning of Japto Soerjosoemarno, national chairman of Pemuda Pancasila’s National Leadership Council, as a witness in an alleged gratification case in Kutai Kartanegara. Investigators focused on examining cash flows allegedly described as “security costs” from the mining sector.

“Investigators examined alleged receipt of mining proceeds from PT ABP as a security service fee,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Tuesday (10 March).

However, Budi declined to disclose the total amount of money allegedly received by Japto. After completing his questioning at KPK’s Red and White Building, Japto also remained silent and declined to answer media questions regarding the investigation details.

“Don’t ask me,” Japto said briefly before leaving the location.

Japto’s questioning forms part of the expansion of an alleged gratification case concerning coal volumes that ensnared former Kutai Kartanegara regent Rita Widyasari. In this case, the KPK has extended legal proceedings to the corporate sector.

Previously, on Thursday (19 February), the KPK officially designated three companies as new suspects in the case. “The KPK again designated three new corporate suspects, namely PT SKN, PT ABP, and PT BKS,” stated Budi Prasetyo.

The designation of these corporate suspects was made after investigators obtained sufficient preliminary evidence regarding the involvement of the three companies in the Rita Widyasari gratification scandal. Currently, the investigation team is completing case files to bring the corporate suspects before the court. The KPK suspects the existence of cash flows related to coal metric tonnes in Kutai Kartanegara entering Japto Soerjosoemarno’s pockets.