Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Binsar Panjaitan claimed to be ready to be audited and examined by the related Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). business tes polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Luhut and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir were reported to the KPK regarding the PCR business. The two are said to have founded PT Genomics Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI) which is engaged in the Covid-19 examination.
“The easiest thing is we don’t have to be angry, just audit … we are very ready (to be audited),” said Luhut in an interview with CNN Indonesia TV which aired Friday (12/11) afternoon.
He also stated that he was ready to call the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after a number of people reported the issue to the anti -corruption agency.
Luhut claimed that he had nothing to fear as long as he did not do what he was accused of.
“Are you ready, why aren’t you? There’s nothing that I’m afraid of as long as I don’t do that,” said Luhut.
Luhut said that since the company was founded two years ago he has not made a dime. According to him, the money he has from his business so far is enough to live on.
As for his involvement in the establishment of PT GSI, he said, it was due to humanitarian issues. He admitted that together with a number of other big businessmen he founded the company to help procure PCR tests so that they could be cheaper and carried out in large quantities.
“From the start, I didn’t have one dime in my pocket, what was that for me?” said Luhut.
This retired TNI officer stated that at the beginning of the pandemic, the cost of PCR tests in Indonesia reached IDR 5-6 million. However, slowly that rate can drop along with the availability of reagents and other PCR test components.
He stated that while he was the Chair of the Java-Bali Covid-19 Handling, all decisions related to purchases had to be audited by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).
“It must be audited by BPKP, because I don’t want to make the mistake of being audited. So BPKP and the Ministry of Health will determine all the provisions, please check,” said Luhut.
“So how much do you want the price to be, BPKP see. So the price can go up and down or it can still be high, that’s it” supply demand,” he added.
Previously, former YLBHI Director Agustinus Edy Kristianto said a number of government ministers of President Joko Widodo were involved in the PCR test business. According to him, the ministers are affiliated with PT Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI), a provider of Covid-19 testing services.
Edy said the company was founded by a number of large companies. According to him, Luhut was involved through PT Toba Bumi Energi and PT Toba Sejahtra, a subsidiary of PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk (TOBA).
In addition, there is the name of the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. Edy linked Erick with the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation which is related to PT Adaro Energy Tbk (ADRO). The company is headed by Erick’s brother, Boy Thohir.
Some time after this issue emerged, several people who were members of the People’s Party for the Fair and Prosperous (Prima) reported Luhut and Erick Thohir to the KPK.
The KPK leadership then stated that it would follow up on the report.
(already/sur)
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