KPK Readies Official Investigation into Former Health Minister Graft Claims
Authorities are closing in on former Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) signaled on Tuesday that it was close to charging the woman, once described by her subordinate as “untouchable,” with allegedly participating in a scheme to mark-up the price of needed medical equipment during the height of Indonesia’s bird flu epidemic.
KPK Deputy Chief Busyro Muqoddas said the commission in the process of preparing a sprindik letter — a document marking the start of an official investigation — on Tuesday. When signed, the sprindik will allow the KPK to intensify its investigation into allegations of graft that first emerged some two years ago.
“It’s almost certain,” Busyro said when asked if Supari would be named a suspect in the case. “[But] I still haven’t received the sprindik at my desk. ”The KPK, which took over the case from the National Police, previously filed to seize Supari’s property after it emerged in court that the former health minister had reportedly accepted Rp 1.2 billion in bribes from medical supplier Graha Ismaya.
The company handed over Rp 4.97 billion in Bank Mandiri traveller’s checks to secure the contract to outfit the ministry’s crisis response center with equipment as the nation struggled to control an outbreak of bird flu that eventually left more than 100 people dead in the deadliest H5N1 outbreak in Southeast Asia.
In the midst of widespread concern over what was then a new and potentially devastating virus, the central government pushed through the formation of a crisis center, authorizing the purchase of medical equipment “buffer stocks,” meant to meet the demand of a larger H5N1 outbreak. But several health ministry officials reportedly used the momentum to line their pockets.
The Indonesian companies Graha Ismaya and Prasasti Mitra were directly appointed by the ministry to supply the equipment, according to investigators. The health ministry’s director Ratna Dewi Umar was already found guilty of graft and sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the case. The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court declared Ratna guilty of marking up the price of ventilators provided by Prasasti Mitra — a company owned by the brother of Hary Tanoesoedibjo, a media mogul and People’s Conscious Party (Hanura) running mate of presidential hopeful Wiranto.
That scheme cost the state, in total, some Rp 12 billion in losses. Ratna maintained her innocence throughout the trial, testifying that Supari was responsible for the graft — a claim supported by evidence that she would have had to sign-off on any contracts or direct appointments of medical suppliers during her tenure. “I was just following an order from my superior, I did not intend to commit any corruption as accused,” Ratna said during her trial. “Siti Fadilah Supari has been untouchable and is so sure she will not be touched, but I am convinced she will not escape her Judgment Day.
”The former health minister has so far been able to ride out the storm. The National Police named Supardi a corruption suspect in 2012 but she has been able to remain untouched for years, even serving as a presidential advisor on health issues in the midst of a criminal investigation.
The antigraft body was handed control of the investigation in order to prevent the National Police and the KPK from conducting parallel probes into the health minister’s alleged involvement.Supari role in the medical procurement graft reportedly cost the state some Rp 6.1 billion in losses. She continues to claim innocence in the case. (The Jakarta Globe)
