Witness Reveals 'Devil's Money' in Noel Ebenezer's K3 Certification Bribery Case

Director of PT Upaya Riksa Patra, Vera Lutvia, stated that she had once sent non-technical money for processing occupational health and safety (K3) certifications at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) and recorded it as ‘devil’s money’ in the expense notes.

This was revealed by Vera 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).

The prosecutor initially asked about the cash voucher attachment in the safe for 2023. Vera said that the writing ‘devil’s money’ in that attachment was the handwriting of the President Director of PT Upaya Riksa Patra.

“Whose handwriting is this, ma’am?” asked the prosecutor at the start of the trial.

“It’s our President Director’s handwriting,” Vera replied.

“The money was in the safe like that?” the prosecutor followed up.

“So, if you look at this, cash, the money in the safe is written by the finance person to Kemnaker on 5 January 2023, that’s the finance person. Then there’s the writing ‘devil’s money’, that’s the President Director’s handwriting,” Vera explained.

The prosecutor was curious why the expense was written as “devil’s money”. Meanwhile, Vera admitted that her company was actually reluctant about the non-technical money in question.

“Why is it written ‘devil’s money’, ma’am?” asked the prosecutor.

“Well, actually we were reluctant, sir,” Vera replied.

“Why wasn’t this disposed of by the Director? Why is there no disposal for the ‘devil’s money’ for the Rp15.2 million to Mr Supriadi?” the prosecutor continued.

“Oh, I don’t know, sir,” Vera admitted.

On this day, KPK prosecutors also presented several other witnesses. Two of them were Director of PT Barito Sarana Karya (BSK) Rony Sugiarto, who admitted to spending around Rp100 million per year in non-technical money to handle K3 certifications, and Director of PT Fresh Galang Mandiri, Rusmini.

Meanwhile, when confirmed after the trial, Noel mentioned that there is a lot of “devil’s money” in the ministry.

“Devil’s money, we know there’s a lot of devil’s money in the ministry. Lots of corruption practices, they’re all bandits,” said Noel.

Noel’s Indictment

Noel and his associates are indicted for the criminal act of extortion related to handling K3 certifications amounting to Rp6.5 billion.

“Forcing a person, namely forcing applicants for K3 certification or licence, 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, and other K3 certification or licence applicants, to give something, pay, or receive payment with deductions, or to do something for themselves, namely giving money with a total amount of Rp6,522,360,000,” stated KPK Prosecutor Asril at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (19/1).

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

Meanwhile, Fahrurozi by Rp270,955,000; Heru Sutanto Rp652,236,000; Subhan Rp326,118,000; Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra Rp652,236,000; Irvian Bobby Mahendro Rp978,354,000; Sekarsari Kartika Putri Rp652,236,000; Anitasari Kusumawati Rp326,118,000; Supriadi Rp294,063,000.

Then Haiyani Rumondang as Director General of Supervision and Occupational Safety and Health (Binwasnaker & K3) from 2020 to April 2024 Rp381,281,000; Sunardi Manampiar Sinagar as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 from 2021 to September 2024 Rp288,173,000; Chairul Fadhly Harahap as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 from September 2024 to 2025 Rp37,945,000.

Furthermore, Ida Rochmawati as Coordinator of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (SMK3) Field by Rp652,236,000; Nila Pratiwi Ichsan as Subcoordinator of the K3 Institution Quality Assurance Field Rp326,118,000; Fitriana Bani Gunaharti as Subcoordinator of the K3 Institution Quality Standards Compilation Field Rp326,118,000.

“Unlawfully or by misusing 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 misused their authority related to the Issuance and Extension of Individual Occupational Health and Safety (K3) Certification or Licence for the certification or licence applicants,” the prosecutor revealed.

In addition, Noel is also indicted for receiving gratuities amounting to Rp3,365,000,000 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 handling K3 certifications by naming three new suspects. They are suspected of receiving money flows.

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 Ministry of Manpower’s Public Relations Bureau Sunardi Manampiar Sinaga.