FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Member of Commission III of the Republic of Indonesia DPR Benny K Harman said that the smuggling of gold bars worth IDR 189 trillion at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) found by Mahfud MD was included in the crime of money laundering.
“The smuggling of Rp. 189 trillion in gold bars at the Ministry of Finance was included in the money laundering crime of Rp. 349 trillion which was disclosed by Prof. Mahfud,” said Benny in his statement (2/4/2023).
The Deputy Chairperson of the Democratic Party DPP said that his party asked in a follow-up meeting at Commission III of the DPR Mahfud to reveal the perpetrators.
“We asked Mr. Mahfud in the follow-up meeting at Commission III of the DPR to show his nose, who did it, and where did the money go,” he continued.
According to Benny, this was important so that the case would become clear before the eyes of the public.
“So that everything is clear and the problem becomes clear,” he said.
Previously, Chairman of the National Coordinating Committee for the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering Crimes, Mahfud MD, explained PPATK’s findings regarding money laundering worth IDR 189 trillion related to imports of gold bullion into the country.
The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs also said that the alleged gold imports were carried out by 15 entities smuggled into the country under the pretext of raw gold.
This finding is also inseparable from Mahfud MD’s suspicions regarding suspicious transactions of IDR 349 trillion within the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) which are related to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
“Imported gold bars that are expensive, but in the excise letter it says raw gold. Investigated by PPATK, it remains to be investigated, but it is said to be raw gold. Admittedly this is raw gold that was printed in Surabaya, looking for Surabaya where there is no factory,” said Mahfud, during his presentation at Commission III DPR RI, quoted Friday (31/3/2023).
