Police Explain Delay in Naming Suspects in Three Corruption Cases
Joint investigators from the National Police’s Corruption Eradication Task Force (Kortastipidkor) and the Metro Jaya Regional Police have not yet named suspects in cases of money laundering and corruption related to coal mining, ASABRI, and Krakatau Steel. Over the past two days, the joint investigative team has searched at least 13 locations across Jakarta and Sentul, Bogor Regency. Additionally, at least 15 witnesses have been questioned in connection with the searches. The cases are being handled through a joint investigation mechanism by investigators from the Metro Jaya Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate and the National Police’s Kortastipidkor.
"The announcement of suspect designations is not tonight, but will be in the near future. We will convey information regarding the suspects in the cases handled by the joint investigation between Kortas and Metro Jaya Police," said Metro Jaya Police Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, during a press conference at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, on Friday evening. He did not specify exactly when the announcement of the suspect designations would be scheduled. Budi stated that the joint investigators are still working to deepen their investigation into the cases before naming suspects.
"We will deliver the announcement of suspects in this case at the next stage. Currently, our investigators are still conducting in-depth investigations," he said in response to questions from journalists at the press conference. In this matter, investigators have examined 15 witnesses to gather information related to the three corruption cases. Furthermore, 13 locations have been searched and a number of pieces of evidence have been seized. "In the investigation process, several steps have been taken regarding witness examinations, searches, seizure of evidence, as well as deepening the analysis of documents, financial transactions, and electronic evidence," Budi said.
Previously, the Head of Kortastipidkor, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, explained that three corruption cases are being handled through a joint investigation mechanism with the Metro Jaya Regional Police. "The handling of corruption and money laundering cases in the legal process for the PLN BB case, then the ASABRI case from 2020 to 2025, and the alleged corruption case in the debt settlement process of PT CBS to PT KNI, a subsidiary of Krakatau Steel, from 2020 to 2025," he told reporters at a search location in Cipete. In connection with these cases, investigators have searched 13 locations in the Jakarta area up to Sentul, Bogor, West Java. A number of pieces of evidence, including cash in various currency denominations such as US and Singapore dollars, as well as dozens of kilograms of gold bars, were secured by police from the searches.