Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced Wednesday it's investigating alleged corruption in the government procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government has allocated a budget of Rp 3 trillion ($192.8 million) for the procurement by the Health Ministry in fiscal years 2020-22.
KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said three witnesses were interrogated by the commission earlier in the day as part of the ongoing investigation.
They include Health Ministry Official Budy Silvana, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)'s finance department head Tavip Joko, and lawyer Admiral Herdi Pratama.
"The three witnesses were deposed about their knowledge related to payments made during the PPE procurement at the Health Ministry," the spokesman said.
The commission has identified a number of suspects but Ali declined to disclose their identities pending the conclusion of the preliminary investigation.
The graft scandal allegedly cost the state hundreds of billions of rupiah.