TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Special Staff of the Minister of Finance (Ministry of Finance) for Strategic Communications Yustinus Prastowo responded to a case of alleged money laundering at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Ditjen Customs) of the Ministry of Finance relating to gold imports. The case was revealed by the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD during a meeting with Commission III DPR RI.
Prastowo said that in time the Ministry of Finance would provide details. “What is certain is that we will follow up all the information and analysis results in accordance with the applicable regulations,” he told Tempo via text message on Thursday evening, March 30, 2023.
He also said that the Ministry of Finance is taking a close look at information and developing discourses, including those discussed at the meeting with Commission III of the DPR RI. “We respect the process that is taking place at Commission III of the DPR,” said Prastowo.
The story of the imported gold bullion case began when Mahfud explained that there had been a mistake on the part of the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati regarding suspicious transaction data worth IDR 349 trillion at the Ministry of Finance. According to Mahfud, there were Sri Mulyani’s subordinates who covered up the alleged money laundering (TPPU) case at the Ministry of Finance.
The data that Sri Mulyani received on March 13 2023 from the Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) Ivan Yustiavandana had previously been sent, which included a transaction value of IDR 189 trillion. However, said Mahfud, Sri Mulyani’s subordinate stated that there were no reports regarding the alleged money laundering.
“Oh no ma’am, there never was,” said Mahfud telling during a meeting with Commission III which was broadcast live via the DPR RI’s YouTube account on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. He did not explain in detail who the Ministry of Finance official had blocked access to, only saying that it was first echelon officials.
“This is information for 2020,” Mahfud said, imitating Sri Mulyani. “Nothing,” he replied.
