Hendri Bangun Cs Violated PWI Organizational Regulations

IJW: PWI Central Chairperson, Hendri Bangun Cs Violated PWI Organizational Regulations and Criminal Offenses of Criminal Code Articles 372 and 374

Jakarta — Indonesian Journalist Watch (IJW) assesses that in the matter of BUMN grant funds for UKW (Journalist Competency Test) of IDR 6 billion, the Chairperson of PWI (Indonesian Journalists Association), Hendri Ch.Bangun and his cronies have violated PWI organizational regulations and violated the law on embezzlement according to Criminal Code Articles 372 and 374 or Article 488 of Law I/2023.

This was conveyed by the Chairperson of Indonesian Journalist Watch (IJW), HM. Jusuf Rizal, SH, answering questions from journalists in Jakarta about the case involving the oldest journalist organization in Indonesia, which has now gone viral due to its Chairperson, Hendri Ch.Bangun, allegedly embezzling aid funds worth IDR 2.9 billion.

This case was first opened by the Chairman of the Honorary Council (DK) of the Central PWI, Sasongko Tedjo and the Treasurer of the Central PWI, Martin Slamet. Then, on April 16, 2024, the Treasurer of the Central PWI, Martin Slamet, imposed organizational sanctions on Hendri Ch. Bangun in the form of a Strong Warning and the return of money that was illegally controlled of Rp. 1.7 billion. Meanwhile, the Secretary General, Sayid Iskandarsyah, Deputy Treasurer, M. Ihsan and Director of UKM, Syarif Hidayatullah were recommended to be dismissed. The decision of the Treasurer of the Central PWI was supported by the Advisory Council (DP) of the Central PWI.

According to Jusuf Rizal, the anti-corruption activist of Madurese-Batak blood, there were two things that Hendri Ch. Bangun and the three daily administrators of the Central PWI violated. First, violation of PWI organizational regulations. This is internal and is the domain of the Central PWI Honorary Council (DK).

Second, violation of the law. There is a criminal offense in the form of control of funds without rights which falls into the category of embezzlement of the Criminal Code 372 and 374 or Article 488 of Law I/2023. However, it can be included in the crime of corruption if it is proven that there are cash back funds (gratification) to an individual with the initials G at the Ministry of SOEs, Erick Thohir.

In the context of the embezzlement, there is no need for a public complaint to the authorities. This is an ordinary legal offense that can be processed by law, because there has been a legal event. Moreover, in the case of the BUMN fund assistance, it has been reported to the National Police Headquarters by Journalist Edison Siahaan who feels aggrieved and the NGO LIRA (People's Information Barn)

Hendri Ch. Bangun has carried out an evil conspiracy with three daily administrators of the Central PWI to control the Ministry of SOEs' assistance funds personally without rights. He has taken money by violating Articles 12 and 14 of the PWI ART, distributed it by engineering policies and using the funds outside the provisions - for UKW

According to the information, some of it has been returned, asked the journalist. The refund does not automatically nullify the legal event. And Hendri Ch.Bangun et al have clearly violated the law in terms of controlling funds without rights, answered Jusuf Rizal.

"So this is a simple matter. The police should not have to take a long time to be able to determine the violation of the law. The public does not need to teach ducks to swim," said Jusuf Rizal, who is also the President of the NGO LIRA (People's Information Barn).

It was also stated that IJW would also request information and official clarification from the BUMN Public Relations Forum regarding the problem. IJW needs to know which companies the BUMN assistance funds that were said to have been collected from the BUMN Public Relations Forum came from. How much each BUMN contributed. Then how is the realization of the counter-performance," said Jusuf Rizal