Reviewing National Sports Funding

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi has been named as a corruption suspect, indicating that a thorough review of Indonesia’s sports funding system is needed.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi gives a statement to journalists at his official residence in the Widya Chandra complex, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Wednesday (18/9/2019) in connection to the decision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to name him a suspect in a bribery case pertaining to a grant for the National Sports Council (KONI) in the 2018 budget year from the ministry.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has announced that it has named Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi as suspect in a graft case related to a government grant for the National Sports Committee (KONI). The announcement is a stern warning about sports funding in Indonesia and points to the need for a thorough review of the system, as this is not the first such case involving the sports minister.

In 2012, then-sports minister Andi Mallarangeng also faced legal case in connection with the construction of a sports facility in Hambalang, Bogor. Andi resigned as minister after the KPK named him as a suspect in the case.

Evaluating the sports ministry was also necessary, as the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) issued disclaimers or “no opinion” decisions on the ministry’s funding in 2015 and 2016.

“Bribery and noncompliance in reporting gratuities by state administrators are disruptive towards the government’s efforts to reach state governance goals. Funds that should have been used for athlete development and youth capacity-building were instead stolen,” KPK deputy chair Alexander Marwata said while announcing Imam’s suspect status on Wednesday (18/9/2019) at the KPK building in Jakarta.

Imam is alleged to have accepted Rp 26.5 billion (US$1.88 million) in bribes.

ANTARA FOTO/SIGID KURNIAWAN

Deputy chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Alexander Marwata (right), accompanied by KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah, leaves a room after holding a press conference at the KPK building, Jakarta, Wednesday (18/9/2019). The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi and his personal secretary Miftahul Ulum suspects in a bribery case pertaining to a grant for the National Sports Council (KONI) from the ministry. Imam was believed to have accepted Rp 26.5 billion.

The KPK last Wednesday (11/9) named as a suspect Imam’s personal staffer, Miftahul Ulum, who has been detained. It is alleged that Imam received Rp 14.7 billion in 2014-2018 through Ulum.

Furthermore, Imam is also alleged to have requested Rp 11.8 billion in 2016-2018 for a total of Rp 26.5 billion. The money was allegedly used to cover the personal expenses of Imam and other associates.

Imam is the second minister in President Joko Widodo’s Cabinet to face the law. In late August 2018, Idrus Marham was also legally processed for allegedly accepting bribes in the Riau-1 steam power plant (PLTU) case. Idrus resigned as Social Affairs Minister immediately upon receiving the KPK’s notification announcing the start of its investigation.

Consultation

Imam said he would consult with President Joko Widodo regarding his legal troubles.

“I don’t know what is going to happen, as I have to meet with and report to the President first. Therefore, I will let the President make the decision as I am an assistant to the President,” he said at his official residence in the Widya Chandra complex in Jakarta.

Politicians and other peers, including Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, visited Imam on Wednesday evening.

Imam said that the presumption of innocence should prevail in his case, and that the KPK must prove the bribery allegation.

Politicians and other peers, including Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, visited Imam on Wednesday evening. Imam and Hanif both hail from the National Awakening Party (PKB).

PKB secretary-general Hasanuddin Wahid said the party respected the KPK’s announcement and would provide Imam with legal support.

Lessons

KONI chair Marciano Norman expressed his hope that Imam’s legal case would serve as a stern warning for both the sports ministry and the national sports body. “This must not happen again, and this is the right moment to evaluate the sports funding system that involves the Youth and Sports Ministry and KONI. Grants are no longer appropriate, due to the high risk [of corruption]. A more transparent and accountable funding system would provide more surety,” he said.

Marciano also expressed the hope that Imam’s case would not affect Indonesia’s preparations for the 2019 World Beach Games in Qatar on 12-16 Oct. and the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines on 30 Nov.-10 Dec.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

The situation of the office of the Sports and Youth Ministry in Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (18/9/2019). The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Sports and Youth Minister Imam Nahrawi as a suspect in an alleged bribery case on the grant to the National Sports Council (KONI) from the ministry.

“We hope that the wheel of the Youth and Sports Ministry will continue to turn in alignment with existing mechanisms,” said Harry Warganegara, who chairs the Indonesian delegation to the 2019 SEA Games.

It was business as usual on Wednesday at the Youth and Sports Ministry. Imam was not seen in his office for the entire day. The ministry’s youth development deputy, Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh, said that he last met Imam on Tuesday to talk about bureaucratic reform.

Arrest

The case that led to Imam’s suspect status began on 18 Dec. 2018, when the KPK arrested the sports ministry’s deputy IV Mulyana, KONI secretary-general Ending Fuad Hamidy, KONI treasurer Jhonny E. Awuy and sports ministry employees Adhi Purnomo and Eko Triyanto on. Ending and Jhonny have been tried and found guilty at the Jakarta Corruption Court. The trials of the three other suspects are ongoing.

In response to the indicting of the five, the Youth and Sports Ministry agreed to provide KONI in 2018 a grant of Rp 47.9 billion, comprising Rp 30 billion for oversight and development of the sports development program for the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games and Rp 17.9 billion for oversight and development of athlete and coach recruitment for the 2019 SEA Games.

It is believed that the proposed grant involved dishonest practices.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi prepares to give a statement to journalists at his official residence in Widya Chandra complex, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Wednesday (18/9/2019) in connection with the decision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to name him a suspect in a bribery case pertaining to a grant for the National Sports Council (KONI) in the 2018 budget year from the ministry.

The KPK and the court had questioned Imam as a witness in connection with the other suspects.

In a hearing at the Corruption Court in April 2019, prosecutors grilled Imam on the disposition of funds he had issued to Mulyana. Imam said that, once he had issued the disposition, he was no longer responsible [for the funds] and that he even did not carry out an evaluation.

This is despite his obligations as minister to monitor and evaluate the disposition process, as stipulated in the regulations that Imam read out in front of the judicial panel.

Imam also denied that he was aware of the funds he was transferred through Miftahul. He also testified that Miftahul knew nothing about the proposed grant, although Miftahul testified to the contrary at court.

(IAN/DNA/DRI/SKA/SHR)