Dirgantara’s Tribute to the Military

Monday, October 26, 2020

Dirgantara Indonesia allegedly paid Rp178.98 billion in kickbacks to generals and middle-grade officials in the defense ministry, Indonesian Military (TNI), and officials at other ministries. The money is taken from aircraft and helicopter procurement and maintenance projects, which were run by the state-owned aircraft manufacturer from 2008 to 2016. Dirgantara labels the money as ‘marketing fee’ using fictitious partners.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (third from right) with East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak (second from right) witness the signing of the hand-over of Bell-412EP helicopters from the East Kalimantan Province at Dirgantara Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, July 2013./TEMPO doc./Aditya Herlambang. tempo : 173485526175.

THE ledgers contain the names of generals and middle-grade officers in the defense ministry, three branches of the TNI, as well as officials at other institutions. Written in a non-uniform format, columns in the ledger contain positions, names of officials, and amounts of money.

The name of then-secretary-general at the defense ministry, Vice Marshal Eris Herryanto, is mentioned in one of these ledgers, titled Defense Ministry-Indonesian Army Be

...