Alleged corruption in DPR members' official residences reaches tens of billions

Allegations of corruption in the procurement of facilities for DPR members' residences related to the equipment of living rooms and bedrooms.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Dugaan Korupsi Kelengkapan Rumah Jabatan Anggota DPR Capai Puluhan Miliar

Workers replace the lights in front of the entrance lobby to the DPR leadership room, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/3).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK has named suspect in the case alleged corruption in the procurement of equipment for DPR offices. The alleged corruption value of the living room and bedroom equipment reaches tens of billions of rupiah.

Head of the Public Relations Division of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Ali Fikri, revealed on Monday (26/2/2024) that the KPK is currently handling allegations of corruption in the procurement of equipment and furniture for the official residences of DPR members for the 2020 fiscal year. "The alleged corruption involves the procurement of furniture for the living room, bedrooms, and so on," said Ali.

Ali revealed that the corruption value of this case is around tens of billions of rupiah. KPK has named several suspects in this case. However, the names and positions of the suspects in this case cannot be disclosed.

Also read: Corruption Again, Corruption Again

He explained that the leadership and structural officials at the Deputy for Corruption Eradication of the Corruption Eradication Commission, including investigators, investigators and prosecutors, had agreed in the case title to elevate this case to the investigation process.

(Alleged corruption) equipment in the living room, bedroom, etc.

Previously, the Secretary General of the Indonesian Parliament, Indra Iskandar, was examined by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on May 31, 2023. The examination of Indra was not listed in the schedule of examinations as it is still in the investigation stage.

WILLY MEDI CHRISTIAN NABABAN

Secretary General of the House of Representatives, Indra Iskandar, was interviewed in his office at the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (4/10/2022).

After being questioned by investigators, Indra tried to avoid journalists, becoming confused as he searched for a way to leave the KPK building. He walked through the car path that pedestrians are not permitted to pass. Even when KPK security officers showed him the pedestrian exit, Indra disregarded their instructions. Indra remained silent when asked by journalists about his summons to the KPK, including related to the procurement of curtains for a member of parliament's official residence.

In May 2022, there was a controversy over the procurement of new curtains for the official residences of DPR members with a budget allocation of up to IDR 43.5 billion. The project was criticized by the public because the DPR was deemed insensitive to the difficulties of the people who are still facing the Covid-19 pandemic and its social and economic impacts. After public protests, the DPR Secretariat General canceled the curtain procurement project (Kompas, 31/8/2022).

Kompas has asked Indra regarding the alleged corruption case in the procurement of equipment for DPR offices which is being handled by the KPK. However, he did not respond.

Not surprised

Contacted separately, researcher at the Indonesian Parliament Concerned Community Forum (Formappi), Lucius Karus, was not surprised to hear the news of alleged corruption in the procurement of equipment for DPR members' offices.

The procurement of curtains and several other items that were budgeted from the DPR budget and had questionable urgency caused quite a stir before. The budget allocated for the procurement of curtains was ultimately cancelled. The cancellation occurred due to strong public criticism that deemed the value of the procurement project to be too extravagant.

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

Formappi researcher Lucius Karus

Although the curtain procurement project was ultimately cancelled by the Secretary General and the Housekeeping Agency (BURT) of the DPR, according to Lucius, the procurement modus operandi still confirms suspicions that the curtain project was not particularly important or expensive.

As an experienced translator for a media agency, I will now translate the given article from Indonesian to English. Please note that if the article contains any of the forbidden words, I will keep them as is without translating. Translation: So, it's highly possible that procurement projects in the DPR are not because the facilities being planned are important. However, there's a certain party's need to utilize the available budget for their own gain.

"So, it's highly possible that the procurement project at the DPR is not because the planned facilities are important. However, there is a certain party's need to take advantage of the available budget for personal gain," said Lucius.

According to him, the easiest mode of corruption within the Secretariat General of the DPR is through mark up, namely increasing the budget several times the market price in order to profit from the difference.

He explained that the mark up mode was most likely to occur in the case of procurement in the DPR because the procurement target was for 575 members of the DPR. The large powers of the DPR are considered suitable for the practice of abusing the budget through these projects. The DPR will protect procurement projects for themselves.

Another potential modus operandi could be through procurement using a direct appointment system. With this modus operandi, profit sharing is arranged from the beginning.

Procurement can be done through a tender process, but the company that will become the winner is determined by the secretariat of the DPR. "So, there may be an opportunity for profit-seeking through a closed tender process," said Lucius.

According to Lucius, if the KPK eventually investigates this corruption allegation seriously, it would prove that the concerns that have arisen about the DPR's sensational projects are finally being tested. The procurement project is due to a need or just a handful of people hoping to profit from the project.