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AGO expands investigation into BTS scandal as three more trials open
Three more defendants have been indicted for their roles in the corruption-riddled telecommunications project as the AGO widens its investigation to net other potential perpetrators and criminal activities.
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A technician services a 4G base transceiver station (BTS) on July 13, 2018 in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is expanding its investigation into the graft-ridden 4G base transceiver station (BTS) project to look into other related crimes and perpetrators as three more suspects in the case are indicted.
The initial corruption probe into the BTS project was launched in July 2022, and the office of the assistant attorney general for extraordinary crimes (Jampidsus) has recently started probing money-laundering schemes potentially linked to the project.
It is now looking into whether attempts were made to impede the probe into the BTS project, following a statement from a suspect who claimed that he had paid a number of government officials to thwart the investigation.
"We will summon and investigate more people as long as they are linked to the case. The probe is still ongoing, we're still learning and evaluating the information we have and whether or not we can further the investigation," Jampidsus investigation director Kuntadi told the press on Monday.
Among the witnesses recently questioned in relation to the alleged obstruction of justice is Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo, a politician from the Golkar Party who was serving as a special staffer for Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto at the time of the BTS graft scandal.
Dito maintained that he was not at all involved in the corruption, adding that he was happy to have an opportunity to explain the situation to the AGO investigators.
The 4G telephony project, which falls under the Communications and Information Ministry, is believed to have cost the state some Rp 8 trillion (US$533 million) in losses and has led to the removal of former communications minister Johny G. Plate, a NasDem Party politician.
