MS Kaban Datangi KPK, Diperiksa sebagai Saksi Kasus Anggoro
Former Forestry Minister of Indonesia Questioned by Anti-graft Agency as Witness
Reporter : Rusdi Kamal
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
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Jakarta (B2B) - MS Kaban, mantan Menteri Kehutanan memenuhi panggilan Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) untuk diperiksa sebagai saksi dalam kasus dugaan korupsi Sistem Komunikasi Radio Terpadu (SKRT) di Kementerian Kehutanan di Departemen Kehutanan (Dephut) pada 2006-2007.
"Kita patuhi saja, ini kan proses hukum. Saya dipanggil sebagai saksi, dimintai keterangan untuk Anggoro dalam kasus pemberian uang pada anggota dewan, itu saja," kata MS Kaban saat tiba di gedung KPK Jakarta, Kamis.
Kaban adalah Menteri Kehutanan saat proyek SKRT dilaksanakan, terkait kasus ini KPK juga sudah mencegah MS Kaban pergi keluar negeri selama enam bulan sejak 11 Februari 2014 lalu.
"Kalau penunjukan itu proses administrasi negara saja, yang penting kita tidak ada istilahnya tujuan memperkaya diri, ini hanya melaksanakan tugas negara dan karena waktunya pendek dan juga dibenarkan oleh Undang-undang, peraturan keputusan presiden, dan yang paling penting adalah untuk menjaga hubungan baik dengan pemerintah Amerika Serikat," jelas Kaban.
Kaban yang saat ini menjadi Ketua Umum Partai Bulan Bintang mengatakan bahwa proyek SKRT tersebut merupakan kerja sama pemerintah Indonesia dengan Amerika Serikat sejak zaman Presiden Soeharto dan diperpanjang dalam pemerintahan Presiden Abdurahman Wahid dan Presiden AS Bill Clinton.
"Pada 2004 distop itu karena antara 1999 - 2004, kanwil (kantor wilayah) kehutanan bubar, dan diganti dinas kehutanan, jadi aset negara belum ada yang mengurus antara pemerintah pusat dan daerah, setelah kabinet Indonesia bersatu dan situasi stabil maka semuanya ditarik ke pusat," tambah Kaban.
Kaban juga tidak memusingkan pencegahan keluar negeri mantan supirnya Muhammad Yusuf. "Tidak apa-apa, dia dekat sama saya," ungkap Kaban.
Selain itu, Kaban juga membantah mengetahui penerimaan uang ke Sekretaris Jenderal Departemen Kehutanan saat itu Boen Mochtar Purnama sebesar 20.000 dolar AS.
"Tidak pernah tahu, saya sudah pernah bantah di persidangan. Mana ada dia pernah lapor, tulis? Itu tidak pernah ada," tegas Kaban.
Anggoro yang menjadi tersangka pemberi suap kepada sejumlah anggota Komisi IV DPR dalam kasus ini sebelumnya buron. Anggoro ditangkap oleh petugas imigrasi di Shenzhen China pada 29 Januari 2014 lalu dan tiba di KPK pada 30 Januari malam.
Jakarta (B2B) - MS Kaban, former forestry minister of Indonesia here, Thursday, was questioned as a witness by the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with the corruption case of Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in his ministry in 2006-2007.
"This is a legal process, and I am being questioned as a witness for Anggoro (suspect) in connection with the extension of money to some parliament members. That is all," Kaban said as arrived at the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta today.
Kaban, who is currently also the General Chairman of the Moon and Star Party (PBB), was the minister of forestry when the SKRT project was being carried out; he had been banned from travelling abroad since February 11.
"Regarding the direct appointment issue", he stated," it was a mere state administration. What is important is that there was no intention to enrich oneself. It was merely aimed at implementing state duty due to time constraints and, it was also allowed by the law and the presidential regulation. And what was the most important of all, was maintaining the countrys relations with the US government," he explained.
Kaban pointed out that the project was a cooperation effort between the Indonesian and US governments since the late president Soeharto era, extended later by the late president Abdurrahman Wahid and President Bill Clinton.
"In 2004, it was stopped because between 1999-2004 the regional office of the ministry of forestry was dissolved and replaced by forestry service. So, no central or regional agencies managed the state assets. Only after the unity cabinet was established and the situation was stable, could all the assets be taken to the central management," he remarked.
Regarding the ban on his former driver from travelling abroad, Kaban added that it was all right. "He is indeed close to me," he added.
Kaban denied that he knew that money worth US$20,000 had been received by his then Secretary General, Boen Mochtar Purnama.
"I never know about it. I have already denied any knowledge on it in a court session. Did he ever report it? Never," he retorted.
Anggoro, the President Director of PT Masaro Radiokom and suspect, who had paid bribes to a number of parliament members in the Commission IV to win the project, was caught in Shenzhen, China, on January 29 and had arrived in the country on January 30 after being at large before.
