Lukas Enembe deposited Rp 560 billion (US$37.4 million) in cash at a casino. The money was allegedly linked to corruption and money laundering. This finding is ironic for Papua, where many people are still in poverty.
By
PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO, FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA, NIKOLAUS HARBOWO
·5 minutes read
KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights Mahfud MD (center) together with Deputy Chairperson of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Alexander Marwata (second from left) and Head of the Center for Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis (PPATK) Ivan Yustiavandana (third from right) held a press conference at the Kemenpolhukkam Office , Jakarta, regarding the corruption case that ensnared the Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe, Monday (19/9/2022).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) found suspicious transactions in the form of cash deposits allegedly made by Papua Governor Lukas Enembe to a casino worth 55 million Singapore dollars ($39 million). This value is equivalent to a third of the special autonomy funds received by Papua Province this year of Rp 1.5 trillion ($100 million).
The money deposited into the casino was allegedly related to allegations of gratification, corruption in operational funds of the Papua National Games and money laundering. This finding is ironic in the midst of the condition that Papuan people need support in improving their welfare.
The PPATK Chairman Ivan Yustiavandana in a press conference with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs in Jakarta on Monday (19/9/2022) said the results of the PPATK's collaboration with other countries have found that gambling activities were allegedly carried out in two different countries. The PPATK also found a cash deposit of 5 million Singapore dollars ($3.5 million), which was partly used to purchase jewelry and watches at a price of 55.000 Singapore dollars or Rp 550 million ($37.000).
"One of the results of the analysis is related to the cash deposit transaction in question at a gambling casino worth 55 million Singapore dollars or Rp 560 billion. It's a cash deposit made within a certain period," said Ivan.
According to the executive director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), Tauhid Ahmad, so far gambling transactions at casinos are the easiest to use in foreign currency because they are difficult to track. The perpetrators consist of several people in various places, even abroad. The gambling practice, he added, was likely used to disguise bribes and money laundering. "The transaction is not carried out domestically," he said.
The practice of gambling as a way to disguise predicate crimes has also been revealed in the Indonesia Risk Assessment report on 2021 Money Laundering Crimes published by PPATK. In the case of money laundering from the sale of narcotics with the defendant Devi Yuliana, case Number 57/PID.SUS/2019/PT DKI, it stated that the practice of gambling was indicated to be one way to disguise drug transactions.
TIM KUASA HUKUM LUKAS ENEMBE
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe undergoes a medical examination by a team of doctors at his residence in Jayapura City on September 14, 2022.
Twelve transactions
According to Ivan, the finding of the deposit of money into the casino are part of a number of transactions allegedly involving Lukas. During these five years, PPATK found 12 financial transactions related to Lukas as Governor of Papua, with variations cash deposits and deposits to other parties valued at Rp 1 billion ($67.000) to hundreds of billions of rupiah. With the discovery of a number of suspicious transactions, PPATK froze transactions of 11 financial services with insurances and banks related to Lukas. The frozen transaction value was more than Rp 71 billion ($4.8 million), the majority of which was done by Lukas's son.
If Pak Lukas wants to seek treatment later, we will certainly facilitate it. We will respect the rights of the suspect.
Deputy Chairman of the KPK Alexander Marwata said that so far the KPK had only investigated the gratuity that allegedly involved Lukas amounting to Rp 1 billion. This has been clarified by witnesses or documents. "KPK will develop it in other cases," he said.
If Lukas wants to be questioned in Jayapura, Papua, the KPK asks for his cooperation so that the community can be calmed. Since Lukas was named a suspect in the alleged receipt of gratuities and was questioned on Sept. 12, a crowd of 300 people filled the streets in front of the Papua Police Mobile Brigade headquarters, where Lukas was questioned. They considered the determination of Lukas as a suspect was a criminalization attempt.
“If Pak Lukas wants to seek treatment later, we will certainly facilitate it. We will respect the rights of the suspect," Alexander added.
Mahfud MD said another case allegedly carried out by Lukas was related to the management of operational funds for Papua PON and money laundering worth hundreds of billions of rupiah. From this amount of evidence Mahfud MD said that the Lukas case was not a political fabrication. "It has nothing to do with any particular political party or official, but is a finding and legal fact," added Mahfud MD.
Roy Rening, as the representative of Luka's legal team, said that his party regretted Mahfud MD's statement. He considered that the statement was not pro-justitia and could have an impact on the good name of his client. "In fact, the local government is implementing a development program within the framework of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," said Roy.
Evaluation of special autonomy funds
This finding in the midst of the condition of the Papuan people who are still entangled in the problem of poverty is ironic. The Papua Province Poverty Severity Index, for example, is 2.05 or higher than the national 0.42. The Papua Province Poverty Depth Index is 6.31, almost four times that of the national 1.67.
Executive Director of the Monitoring Committee for the Implementation of Regional Autonomy (KPPOD) Herman N Suparman said, in the context of Papua, the problems are related to poverty, public services and the regional development governance. For this reason, there needs to be serious improvements, especially in the mechanism for monitoring and evaluating Papua's special autonomy funds.
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