Ministry of Defense Takes Legal Action Against Hoax Allegations

Jakarta –

The Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) will take related legal action hoax or false information stating that the European Union Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating alleged corruption in the purchase of used fighter aircraft from Qatar. The Ministry of Defense appointed Hotman Paris Hutapea as legal representative.

“I showed my power of attorney from the Ministry of Defense, not from private individuals or officials,” said Hotman at a press conference at the Ministry of Defense, Central Jakarta, Monday (12/2/2024).

Hotman said he was not acting as legal representative on behalf of Ministry of Defense officials. According to him, he became a legal representative on behalf of the institution and the power of attorney was signed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense.

“The Secretary General’s signature was directly in the name of the ministry, not in his personal name, not in the name of an official,” he said.

Hotman said that his party would take legal action after the 2024 election calm period. Hotman said whoever the perpetrator was must be held responsible.

“Later we will investigate who the perpetrator is. This is a quiet week, so we won’t talk about who the perpetrator is,” he said.

Ministry of Defense Takes Legal Efforts

Deputy Minister of Defense Muhammad Herindra previously stated that there was a wild rumor that the European Union Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating allegations of corruption in the purchase of used fighter aircraft from Qatar. hoax and misguided. Herindra stated that his party would take legal action.

Initially, Herindra said that recently there had been many accusations leveled at the Ministry of Defense (Kemhan), one of which was related to the wild issue of alleged corruption in the procurement of the Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft and related to the purchase of defense equipment between the Ministry of Defense and PT Teknologi Militar Indonesia (TMI). He called the accusations slanderous and heretical.

“In recent days, various misleading information has emerged regarding allegations of corrupt practices in the Mirage 2000-5 election process and information has also circulated accusing PT TMI of being behind the purchase of defense equipment,” said Herindra at a press conference at the Ministry of Defense, Jakarta Center, Monday (12/2).

Herindra regrets the slander directed at the Ministry of Defense. Herindra appealed to all parties not to spread it hoax just for momentary political interests.

Herindra emphasized that the purchase of the Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft had not yet been implemented. This, according to him, was due to limited fiscal space.

“Firstly, the plan to select the Mirage 2000-5 has not yet occurred due to limited fiscal space. The Ministry of Defense remains focused on trying to find the best fighter aircraft to protect Indonesian airspace,” he said.

“One of them is the selection of Rafale and French fighter aircraft which will soon be gradually arriving in Indonesia,” he continued.

Herindra emphasized that there was no defense equipment procurement contract between the Ministry of Defense and PT TMI. He said the information was misleading.

“Regarding PT TMI which is currently being talked about a lot in the media online. “We convey that up to this moment, there is no contract for the procurement of defense equipment between the Ministry of Defense and PT TMI,” said Herindra.

Herindra said that disinformation had spread massively. Because of this, his party decided to take legal action.

“Regarding all the information hoax and slander and degrade efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s defense and harm the Ministry of Defense and have been spread massively by various parties, both through socmed and sites online with various baseless accusations,” he said.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Defense will take legal steps against the spread of slander and hoax which concerns the Ministry of Defense,” he added.

(whn/haf)

2024-02-12 12:59:54


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