- ANTARA/Prasetyo Utomo
VIVAnews – Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau (Kabareskrim), Police Commissioner Sutarman, said former Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, has been officially named a suspect. Siti is allegedly involved in the embezzlement of state budget through the procurement project of medical equipment in 2005.
“Her status as a suspect is confirmed,” said Sutarman on Tuesday, April 17.
Sutarman said that Siti Fadilah’s role in the case is as the authorized budget user. Then after she visited the Criminal Investigation Bureau office, they informed the confirmation. “Yes, she came by herself to us to explain as it is,” he explained.
For further investigation, Sutarman handed the matter over to the investigators. “Further development will come from the investigators,” he said.
Previously, Siti Fadilah’s legal status was unclear. The National Police Headquarters stated that the member of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) was not a suspect yet, only a witness.
Meanwhile, the AGO confirmed that it has received Investigation Commencement Warrant (SPDP) which states that Siti Fadilah has been named a suspect. The SPDP was received by the AGO on March 28.
Initially, Siti Fadilah’s status was revealed by the former Chief of Medical Disaster Management Center, Mulya Hasyim, and the PPA of the Ministry of Health, Hasnawaty, when they testified in the Anti-Corruption Court in Jakarta, on Thurs, April 12. Mulya Hasim and Hasnawaty have also been named suspects.
They testified against the former Marketing Director of PT Indofarma M Naguib, the suspect of medical equipment corruption in the Department of Health in 2005. Naguib was indicted for allegedly performing direct appointment of medical equipment for buffer stock purposes using the State Budget.
One of the suspect’s legal advisors had even asked when the last time Mulyahardja and Hasnawaty was examined by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and in what capacity.
“I was examined as a witness against the suspect, Siti Fadilah Supari, around two weeks ago,” answered Mulya. The same response was also given by Hasnawaty.
