Jakarta. Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have called upon witnesses in the ongoing trial related to the alleged corruption case involving the distribution of rice aid for impoverished families in 2020-2021 at the Social Affairs Ministry. Among the witnesses expected to testify during the trial are the former Social Affairs Minister, Juliari P Batubara, and Bambang Rudijanto Tanoesoedibjo, Commissioner of the logistics company Dosni Roha Logistik (DRL) and elder brother of conglomerate Hary Tanoesoedibjo, who is also the chairman of the United Indonesia Party (Perindo).

KPK spokesperson Ali Fikri announced on Wednesday that witnesses, including Juliari P Batubara and Bambang Rudijanto Tanoesoedibjo, were presented by the prosecutor's team at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court during the trial of defendant M Kuncoro Wibowo and others.

Former President Director of public bus operator Transjakarta, M. Kuncoro Wibowo, faces charges from KPK prosecutors for causing state losses amounting to Rp 127 billion ($8.1 million) in the alleged corruption case. The corrupt practices took place during Kuncoro Wibowo's tenure as the President Director of Bhanda Ghara Reksa or BGR Logistics from 2018 to 2021.

The KPK prosecutors, according to the indictment read during the trial on Jan. 31 at the Corruption Court, accused Kuncoro Wibowo and other defendants, including Budi Susanto (Commercial Director of BGR for the 2018-2021 period), April Churniawan (Vice President Operational of BGR for the 2018-2021 period), Ivo Wongkaren (President Director of Mitra Energi Persada - MEP and chief advisor of Primalayan Teknologi Persada - PTP), Roni Ramdani (PTP advisor), and Richard Cahyanto (PTP General Manager and Director of Envio Global Persada - EGP), of committing corruption.

Apart from causing financial losses to the state, the corruption in the distribution of rice aid resulted in financial gains for the defendants. April Churniawan received Rp 2.9 billion, Ivo Wongkaren and Roni Ramdani received Rp 121.8 billion, and Richard Cahyanto received Rp 2.4 billion.