Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed Idrus Marham`s links with discussions on the construction of the Riau 1 Steam Power Plant (PLTU).

The KPK on Wednesday examined Marham, the former secretary general of the Golkar Party, who now serves as the Minister of Social Affairs, as a witness for the suspect Eni Maulani Saragih (EMS), who is the Deputy Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission VII of the Golkar Party Faction, in a bribery case in the Riau-1 coalition construction agreement.

"The KPK confirmed the knowledge of the witnesses regarding the meetings on the discussion of the Riau-1 PLTU construction project," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah stated in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In addition to Marham, the KPK also questioned Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo (JBK), who is a shareholder of Blackgold Natural Resources Limited, as a suspect in the case.

"In addition, the KPK also cross-examined Eni Maulani Saragih, as a witness to suspect JBK, and Kotjo, as a witness for EMS," Diansyah noted.

Until this news was revealed, the examination of Marham was still ongoing.

Previously, Marham had also been examined by the KPK on July 19 and July 26, 2018.

The KPK has secured a number of items as evidence allegedly related to the case, namely cash amounting to Rp500 million in Rp100 thousand denominations and documents or receipts worth Rp500 million.

Allegedly, the receipt of Rp500 million was part of a 2.5 percent "fee" commitment from the value of the project that would have been given to Saragih and his friends as part of the cooperation agreement for the construction of the Riau-1 PLTU.

The receipt is the fourth one from Kotjo to Saragih, with a total value of at least Rp4.8 billion, namely Rp2 billion given in December 2017, Rp2 billion in March 2018, and Rp300 billion in June 8, 2018.

It was suspected that the money was given by Kotjo to Saragih through staff and family.

The role of Saragih was to ease the process of signing the cooperation related to the construction of the Riau-1 PLTU.

Kotjo allegedly violated Article 5 paragraph 1 letter a or letter b or article 13 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 juncto Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code. *** 2 ***

Reporting by by Benardy Ferdiansyah
Editing by Eliswan Azly



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