Searching DPR Secretariat General Building, Corruption Eradication Commission Seizes Three Suitcases of Documents

For five hours, KPK investigators searched the DPR Secretariat General building. Three suitcases of evidence of alleged corruption were confiscated.

KOMPAS/WILLY MEDI CHRISTIAN NABABAN

The investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have submitted evidence in the form of a red suitcase after conducting a search at the General Secretariat Building of the DPR, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday (30/4/2024) afternoon.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Investigators from the Commission for the Eradication of Corruption searched the Secretariat General DPR building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024 ) afternoon. After five hours of checking the entire building, investigators took three suitcases, a backpack and a number of items wrapped in plastic bags.

A number of KPK investigators arrived at the DPR Setjen building at around 13.00 and only left at 18.00. During the search, the DPR Secretariat General building was closely guarded by a number of fully armed police and internal security officers (pamdal).

Strict guarding is being done at the front and back entrances of the DPR General Secretariat building. Workers who need to access the building are redirected to the side entrance.

The Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) searched all parts of the DPR Secretariat General building which consists of seven floors. They carried evidence which was collected in two red suitcases, one black suitcase, one black backpack and several packs of white plastic bags. The black suitcase says "Pelican Air" and has a "fragile" sticker on it.

Also read: Examining Alleged Corruption at the DPR Official Residence

Head of the KPK News Department, Ali Fikri, when contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024), revealed that the search was carried out in order to collect evidence related to the case being handled by the KPK. However, he has not yet explained the details of the search.

Currently, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating a case of alleged corruption in the procurement of official residence equipment for the 2020 budget year of the House of Representatives (DPR). The financial losses to the state found by the KPK in this case amount to tens of billions of rupiah. However, the KPK has not yet announced the designation of suspects in the case.

Ali added that the alleged corruption found in this case includes the procurement of furniture for the living room and bedroom. The leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and structural officials in the KPK's Enforcement Division as well as investigators and prosecutors have agreed to upgrade the status of the alleged corruption case to an investigation.

The search was carried out in order to collect evidence in a case that the KPK was completing.

When the case was investigated on May 31, 2023, the Secretary General of the DPR, Indra Iskandar, was called and examined by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The examination of Indra was not listed in the examination schedule as it is still in the investigation stage.

After being examined by the KPK at that time, Indra tried to avoid journalists and became confused in finding a way out of the KPK building. He walked through a car lane that was forbidden for pedestrians to pass through. Even Indra ignored the security officer's directions at the KPK that showed the way out for pedestrians. Indra remained silent when asked by journalists about his summons from the KPK, including regarding the procurement of curtains for the DPR member's official residence.

The procurement of new curtains for the official residences of DPR members sparked controversy in May 2022, among other things, because the budget allocation reached IDR 43.5 billion. The project was criticized by the public because the DPR was deemed insensitive to the difficulties of the people who were currently facing the Covid-19 pandemic and its social and economic impacts. After public protests, the DPR Secretariat General canceled the curtain procurement project (Kompas, 31/8/2022).

KOMPAS/WILLY MEDI CHRISTIAN NABABAN

Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission brought plastic bags after conducting a search of the General Secretariat of the House of Representatives building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday (30/4/2024) afternoon.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has prevented seven individuals who are suspected to be involved in the case. Some of them have official status, while others are from the private sector.

Ali did not want to name the party who was prevented from leaving the country. However, based on Kompas sources, those who were prevented were Indra Iskandar, Head of the House of Representatives Management Section Hiphi Hidupati, Director of Utama PT Daya Indah Dinamika Tanti Nugroho, Director of PT Dwitunggal Bangun Persada Juanda Hasurungan Sidabutar, Director of Operations of PT Avantgarde Production Kibun Roni, Project Manager of PT Integra Indocabinet Andrias Catur Prasetya, and Edwin Budiman from the private sector.

On Thursday (14/3/2024), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) once again examined Indra Iskandar. Indra was examined alongside Hiphi Hidupati for an investigation into alleged corruption in the procurement of goods and services project worth IDR 120 billion in 2020.

KOMPAS/EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA

Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri at a press conference at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Friday (10/11/2023).

"Several companies who are the executors are suspected of breaking the law. One of the methods is borrowing flags, then formalities in the processes," said Ali.

Two official residence complexes of members of the DPR (People's Representative Council) that are being investigated by the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) are located in Kalibata and Ulujami, both in South Jakarta. The KPK did not seal off the houses at the two locations. This is because the alleged corruption in this case occurred in the procurement of furniture for the living room, dining room, tables, and so on.

Also read: KPK Examines DPR Secretary General Indra Iskandar, Investigates Alleged Corruption in Office Houses