Sukhoi Enshrouded

Unless there are complications, four Sukhoi fighter planes will soar through the Indonesian skies on October 5a birthday gift at the 58th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI). Purchased from the Russian Government using a counter-trade scheme, the planesand two attack Mill helicopter unitsare worth a total of more than Rp1.7 trillion. If the purchase process is likened to an orchestra, the conductor is none other than Minister Rini M.S. Soewandi. However, not long after the down payment on the planesin cash terms more than Rp220.3 billionthe Sukhoi orchestra was no longer in harmony: some members of the House of Representatives (DPR) raised questions over the purchase process of the fighter jets. Among others, the source of financing didn't come from a budget that had become lawa normal practice during the New Order era. Accountability on the Sukhoi purchase process is the most important question that the government must answer to the public. TEMPO's investigation team traced a number of irregularities behind the purchase of the Russian planes. Here is the report.