Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said he is ready to support efforts made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to resolve an alleged corruption case linked to railway development projects and involving several ministry officers.
"We apologize for this incident and will fully entrust (the implementation of) the legal process to the authorities. We are ready to work together and support the KPK as well as other related parties to resolve this case," he said in a statement released on Thursday.
He emphasized that he will not tolerate any corrupt acts and will take firm action against his staff if they commit such crimes. "We are committed to participating in eradicating corruption, especially within the Transportation Ministry, by always encouraging all officers to maintain integrity and good governance as well as increasing supervision," the minister remarked.
Furthermore, he stated that his party will conduct an inspection to ensure the safety and operational feasibility of the projects whose funds are indicated to have been mismanaged.
"We will also strengthen the supervision of the implementation of other infrastructure projects and ensure their quality meets the transportation safety requirements," he noted.
Earlier, KPK deputy chairperson Johanis Tanak informed that 10 suspects had been named in the alleged bribery case involving several railway construction and maintenance projects in the 2021–2022 fiscal year.
The projects included the construction of the Solo Balapan-Kadipiro-Kalioso double-track railway; railway development in Makassar, South Sulawesi; four railway establishment projects and two railway supervision projects in Lampegan, Cianjur, West Java; as well as improvement of Java-Sumatra railway level crossings.
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Four people are suspected to have given the bribes, while six suspects allegedly received them. They allegedly received a total of Rp14.5 billion, or some 5–10 percent of the project's value.
In a sting operation (OTT) carried out on Tuesday (April 11, 2023), the KPK seized a number of pieces of evidence, including cash worth Rp2.027 billion (US$135.67 thousand) and US$20 thousand as well as debit cards worth Rp346 million (US$23.16 thousand).
