The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has imposed overseas travel bans on four individuals as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving credit facilities provided by the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI).
“A total of four individuals, both state and private sector officials, are currently barred from leaving the country,” KPK spokesman, Ali Fikri, said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Ali did not disclose the identities of those restricted from travelling abroad. However, he noted that KPK investigators need these individuals to testify in the investigation of the suspected corruption at LPEI.
The travel bans have been enforced through the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for six months and may be extended as required by the investigation.
“We remind the individuals in question to cooperate and provide their testimonies to the investigation team,” Ali said.
On March 19, KPK announced that it had commenced an investigation into alleged corruption related to credit facilities at LPEI.
“On March 19, 2024, KPK elevated the status of the inquiry into alleged irregularities or suspected corruption in the provision of credit facilities by LPEI to a formal investigation,” stated KPK Deputy Chairman Nurul Ghufron at the KPK’s Red and White Building in South Jakarta.
KPK Deputy Chairman Nurul Ghufron said that the commission had been handling the matter since May 10, 2023. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati reported a related case to Attorney General St. Burhanuddin on March 18, 2024. KPK had already been handling the matter since May 10, 2023.
“For this case, KPK has adopted a different policy from usual. Typically, we announce the investigation and declare the suspects. However, in this instance, we decided to release and announce the investigation status today before naming any suspects,” Ghufron said.
Speaking about the commission’s ongoing investigation into the LPEI corruption case, Ghufron quoted Article 50 of the KPK Law, noting that the police and the Attorney General’s Office are no longer authorized to handle a corruption case once KPK has commenced an investigation.
“In cases where KPK has already initiated an investigation, the police and the Attorney General’s Office must inform KPK no later than 14 days after starting their investigation,” he said.
KPK has also identified three corporations involved in the alleged corruption case. This contrasts with the Attorney General’s Office, which indicated that four corporations are implicated in the fraud.
The total estimated state financial losses in the LPEI case handled by KPK amount to trillions of rupiah.
“The losses calculated so far from three corporations total Rp3.45 trillion (US$ 214 million),” Ghufron concluded.
