Johnny G Plate to be Tried Soon, AGO Asked to Trace Other Parties

The case files and suspects in the alleged corruption case for the 4G BTS tower procurement project, Johnny G Plate, have been handed over to investigators to the public prosecutor's team.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

PUSPENKUM KEJAKSAAN AGUNG

The handover process of responsibility and evidence (phase II) of the case file of the suspect Johnny G Plate to the public prosecutor team took place on Friday (9/6/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Former Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate who is suspected of being involved in corruption in building a base transceiver station tower or 4G BTS and supporting infrastructure for the Ministry of Communication and Informatics 2020-2022 will be tried soon. Investigators have submitted the case files and the suspect Johnny G Plate to the Attorney General's prosecution team. However, the Attorney General's Office was asked to continue to expand the investigation because it was alleged that other parties were still involved.

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) suspects that there are still other parties involved in the alleged corruption case of BTS tower procurement, yet untouched by the law. This is suspected to have occurred due to a deliberate cessation of investigation by only designating seven suspects.

"Sir, this is new information regarding the contractor and government cluster. I suspect that there may be other clusters outside those who have been identified, but have not yet been touched upon. So it ends here," said MAKI Coordinator Boyamin Saiman when contacted on Sunday (11/6/2023)."

In this case, investigators have named seven people as suspects. They are Commissioner of PT Solitech Media Sinergy Irwan Hermawan; Main Director Ministry of Communication and Informatics Anang Achmad Latief; President Director of PT Mora Telematics Indonesia Galumbang Menak; University of Indonesia Human Development researcher in 2020, Yohan Suryanto; and Account Director of Integrated Account Department Huawei Tech Investment Mukti Ali. The next two suspects are former Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G Plate and Windy Purnama who are said to be Irwan's confidants.

Also read: Become a suspect, Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate Allegedly Lost Rp. 8 Trillion to the State

PUSPENKUM KEJAKSAAN AGUNG

The handover process of suspects and evidence responsibility (phase II) regarding the case file of suspect Johnny G Plate to the public prosecutor team took place on Friday, June 9, 2023.

On Friday (9/6/2023), the investigators conducted the second handover of responsibilities of the suspect and evidence in the case file of Johnny G Plate to the prosecutor's team. After the handover, the prosecutor's team will immediately prepare an indictment for the Nasdem Party politician.

Johnny is suspected of violating Article 2 Paragraph (1) and Article 3 juncto Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Crimes Corruption juncto Article 55 Paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code (KUHP).

Manipulation starts planning

According to Boyamin, this case is suspected to have occurred due to project manipulation from the planning stage, implementation, and then payment for the project carried out. The indication of manipulation arose because the construction project of the BTS tower was not yet completed, but the disbursed budget was already 100 percent.

With such a large amount of disbursed funds, amounting to approximately IDR 10 trillion, there should be supervision from authorized parties or authorities. However, until now, legal processes have not touched those who are responsible for supervision. Boyamin suspects that there is a conflict of interest experienced by those parties.

This case is suspected to have occurred due to manipulation of the project starting from the planning, implementation, and payment stages for the project that was carried out. The indication of manipulation arose because the construction project of the BTS tower was not yet complete, but the disbursed budget was already 100 percent.

On the other hand, Boyamin also questioned why Johnny was not charged with money laundering. Even though it is clear that investigators have seized vehicles and land measuring 11.7 hectares belonging to Johnny in West Manggarai Regency.

"If they do not actively engage in money laundering, they should still be involved in passive money laundering as a party that allows criminal acts to occur and therefore can be charged with participation in money laundering," said Boyamin.

Until now there are four suspects who have been charged with money laundering. They are Commissioner of PT Solitech Media Sinergy Irwan Hermawan, President Director of PT Mora Telematika Indonesia Galumbang Menak, President Director of Bakti Kemenkominfo Anang Achmad Latief, and a private individual named Windy Purnama.

Meanwhile, separately, the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General's Office, Febri Adriansyah, said that investigators had seized Johnny's land. Furthermore, Febrie confirmed the existence of funding from Johnny to the church, but he refused to disclose the value.

DOKUMENTASI HUMAS KEJAKSAAN AGUNG

The Attorney General's Office has seized 11.7 hectares of land owned by non-active Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, in Warloka Village, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This confiscation was carried out related to alleged corruption case in the provision of supporting infrastructure for packages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Ministry of Communication and Information's Bakti program for the years 2020 to 2022.

Febrie also did not deny the existence of funds that Johnny donated for universities and social assistance. However, he refused to mention the amount. "I forgot. Let me check it first, so I won't be wrong," he said.

Head of Sub-Directorate for Corruption and Money Laundering Crime Investigation Directorate of Jampidsus Kejagung Haryoko Ari Prabowo added, until now his party had confiscated several assets allegedly originating from Bakti Kemkominfo funds, including from Johnny. However, Prabowo did not mention the total value of these assets.

The investigator, according to Prabowo, has not yet charged Johnny with allegations of money laundering. Prabowo also refused to mention the alleged money received by Johnny or to any other parties, including political parties. "We will see it in court," Prabowo said.

Also read: Nine Hours Examined by the Prosecutor's Office, the Minister of Communication and Information Searched for 51 Questions

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G Plate (center) is wearing a special vest while being detained after being examined at the Round Building of the Attorney General's Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/5/2023).

Nevertheless, Prabowo neither confirms nor denies the assumption that the case ends with those seven suspects. Until now, investigators are still investigating the involvement of one suspect whose case is still being handled by investigators, namely the suspect Windy. "We just have to finish Windy's case, then we'll see how the trial facts are later," said Prabowo.