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Mahfud quashes allegation BTS graft money flowing to three parties
Speaking during his inaugural press briefing earlier this week, Mahfud said he would only stick to facts and evidence gathered from the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which is currently investigating the case.
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Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD (center), as the head of the Committee for the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering (TPPU), together with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (left) and Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) chairman Ivan Yustiavandana prepare to give a press statement at the PPATK headquarters in Central Jakarta on April 10. In the press conference, they gave the results of a TPPU committee meeting currently in progress of its investigation into Rp 349 trillion (US$23.4 billion) worth of suspicious transactions at the Finance Ministry. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)
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nterim Telecommunication and Information Technology minister Mahfud MD rejected speculation that money siphoned off from the 4G base transceiver station (BTS) graft has flowed to three major political parties in the country.
Speaking during his inaugural press briefing earlier this week, Mahfud said he would only stick to facts and evidence gathered from the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which is currently investigating the case.
"I also got the information, complete with names. But I consider it political gossip," Mahfud said.
Mahfud also claimed he had passed on the information to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and has also instructed the AGO and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to press ahead with their investigation of the case.
Following the arrest of now-dismissed telecommunication and information technology minister Johnny G. Plate, a NasDem politician, for his alleged role in the BTS graft that incurred Rp 8 trillion (US$535 million) losses in government money, unconfirmed allegations have begun to circulate pointing to the involvement of individuals from two other major political parties.
Mahfud said he would not get into the debate on how to find evidence for the alleged role of political parties in the graft case.
"It will be very complicated to prove the allegation and that can cause a political crisis," Mahfud said.
