Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Ministry of Finance (Ministry of Finance) spokesperson Yustinus Prastowo opened his voice over the explanation by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD in Commission III of the DPR RI regarding the Rp. 349 trillion odd transaction.
Prastowo emphasized that the ministry led by Sri Mulyani respects the process that is taking place at Commission III of the DPR RI. He emphasized that the Ministry of Finance is also paying close attention to information and developing discourses.
“The explanations and information that we convey to the public are based on factual conditions based on systems and administration at the Ministry of Finance,” Prastowo told CNNIndonesia.com, Thursday (30/3).
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“In the future we are ready to coordinate and communicate with other government institutions, as we have done so far. So that the data and information submitted to the public will be more consolidated while maintaining transparency and accountability,” he added.
Mahfud was outspoken at Commission III about the alleged Rp349 trillion money laundering (TPPU) crime at the Ministry of Finance. He even insinuated that Sri Mulyani’s defense at Commission XI was claimed to be very far from the facts.
In addition, Mahfud dragged the name of the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) Heru Pambudi to the former Inspector General (Irjen) of the Ministry of Finance Sumiyati in the alleged money laundering case of IDR 189 trillion, related to excise money with 15 entities importing gold bars.
Mahfud claimed that the excise letter was allegedly manipulated with the statement ‘raw gold’, even though gold bullion had already been formed. He said Sri Mulyani’s subordinates had been given a report by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) in 2017.
He said the report was submitted directly by the former PPATK Chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin, accompanied by former PPATK Deputy Chairperson Dian Ediana Rae. The report is dated November 13, 2017.
Mahfud said that the PPATK report was received by Heru Pambudi, who was then Director General of Customs and Excise, then former Inspector General of the Ministry of Finance Sumiyati, as well as two other representatives from the Ministry of Finance.
“The chairman (PPATK) handed over Mr. Badaruddin, Mr. Dian Ediana. Then (those who received) Heru Pambudi from the Director General of Customs and Excise, then Sumiyati the Inspector General. All of these have signatures,” said Mahfud at the DPR, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (29 /3) yesterday.
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However, Mahfud said there was no follow-up from the Ministry of Finance on the report, until finally PPATK sent a new letter in 2020.
Even though a new letter had been sent, he said that the Ministry of Finance, who was present at his office on March 10, 2023, argued that they did not know anything about it. In fact, Heru Pambudi, who is currently the secretary general, was present at the meeting.
Former PPATK Deputy Chairperson Dian Ediana Rae also opened her voice about the report to the Ministry of Finance. He stressed that it was necessary to double-check the validity of Mahfud’s statement to the PPATK management now.
“To be honest, I don’t remember anymore, there were lots of analysis results (HA)/examination results (HP) that we sent to various parties. Maybe it’s better to just contact PPATK. I don’t dare to convince, my memory can’t remember one by one, ” he said when confirmed.
Meanwhile, the former Inspector General of the Ministry of Finance, Sumiyati, who was also dragged into Mahfud’s singing, was reluctant to agree with this statement. He only asked the public to wait for checks from active officials of the Ministry of Finance.
“I am now retired, already outside the Ministry of Finance. Please be patient, friends from the Ministry of Finance are currently investigating. Just wait, I don’t hold the data, so those who are still active will explain based on the data available at the Ministry of Finance,” said Sumiyati.
Sri Mulyani did argue with Commission XI of the DPR RI that out of the IDR 349 trillion odd transaction, only IDR 3.3 trillion directly involved Ministry of Finance employees.
“Those who are really related to Ministry of Finance employees are Rp. 3.3 trillion, that is from 2009 to 2023,” said Sri Mulyani in a working meeting with Commission XI of the DPR, Monday (27/3).
In fact, Mahfud emphasized that the aggregate data on alleged money laundering at the Ministry of Finance from 2009-2023 was divided into three groups of analysis results reports (LHA). The LHA is reported in the PPATK letter.
First, the LHA group is related to suspicious financial transactions for employees of the Ministry of Finance amounting to IDR 35 trillion. There were 153 LHA submitted to the Ministry of Finance with 461 ministry officials involved.
Second, the LHA group is related to suspicious financial transactions that allegedly involve employees of the Ministry of Finance and other parties amounting to IDR 53 trillion. In detail, there were 15 LHAs to the Ministry of Finance with allegations that 30 civil servants under Sri Mulyani’s were involved.
Third, the LHA in the group of suspicious financial transactions is related to the authority of the Ministry of Finance as a predicate crime investigator (TPA) and TPPU, for which data on the involvement of Ministry of Finance employees has not yet been obtained. Mahfud said the figure was IDR 260 trillion, with 32 LHA submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
CNNIndonesia.com has contacted the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance Heru Pambudi to provide information on Mahfud MD’s statement at Commission III, but the person concerned has not provided a response until this news was published.
(skt/agt)