Former Pertamina Commissioner Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, underwent questioning as a witness at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for approximately an hour on Thursday (9/1), confirming previously provided statements.
Ahok, who arrived at the KPK office around 11:14 AM WIB, stated that the process was swift as it mainly involved him confirming his earlier statements. The questioning is part of the ongoing case into an alleged corruption involving the procurement of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at PT Pertamina between 2011 and 2021.
"I’ve been questioned before, so this time it was quicker. We didn’t need to fill out biodata again, we just confirmed the information," Ahok said after the questioning at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta. He declined to elaborate on the details of his testimony, deferring to the KPK investigators.
Ahok, a former PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) cadre and former Jakarta Governor, noted that the LNG case predates his tenure as Pertamina’s Commissioner, and he is reluctant to discuss specifics. He was accompanied by his legal team during the questioning.
In addition to Ahok, KPK also summoned seven other witnesses, including PT Pertamina’s former and current executives, to gather more information and strengthen the case. The commission has named two state officials, namely Hari Karyuliarto and Yenni Andayani, as suspects in the case.
Ahok’s testimony comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings against former Pertamina Director General Galiala Karen Kardinah, also known as Karen Agustiawan. In an earlier ruling, the Jakarta High Court sentenced Karen to nine years in prison and a Rp500 million fine, which was later reduced to three months of imprisonment due to subsidy.
The court found Karen guilty of corruption in the same LNG procurement case, causing significant financial losses to the state. The case is being prosecuted by the Corruption Eradication Commission, with ongoing investigations and trials to hold accountable those involved in the alleged corruption scheme.
