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PPATK traces suspicious transactions of election candidates
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Against dubious transactions: Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin (right) shakes hand with the center's deputy chairman , Dian Ediana Rae (left), after their inauguration by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Oct.26, 2017. (Antara Photo/Yudhi Mahatma)
T
he Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) says it has discovered many suspicious transactions, both cash and electronic, carried out by candidates, election organizers and members of political parties that will participate in the 2018 simultaneous regional elections.
The PPATK chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin said there were 52 suspicious non-cash transactions and 1,006 cash transactions, which were mostly carried out by incumbent candidates.
The center started tracking the transactions in late 2017. The non-cash transactions were considered suspicious as they involved more than Rp 500 billion (US$36.26 million) each.
“For example, the minimum fund is Rp 75 million, but then a person carried out a transaction involving Rp 200 million. That’s suspicious,” Kiagus revealed the center’s finding during a hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
He said incumbents dominated the transactions because unlike the non-incumbent candidates, they would have the sources to carry them out. The PPATK would strengthen monitoring ahead of voting day, particularly when it came to regions that had a political dynasty.
Kiagus said the findings did not mean that those transactions were proven as crimes or corruption. “The PPATK is still analyzing the findings to be given to law enforcers,” Kiagus said.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Arteria Dahlan said the PPATK should focus more on monitoring particular accounts over campaign funds.
“How can you indicate that certain transactions are suspicious? I’m afraid that you [PPATK analysts] will arbitrarily trace my transactions should you have personal problems with me,” Arteria said. (ebf)
