1Berita News – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of Indonesia has initiated an investigation into the German software company SAP, suspecting bribery of Indonesian officials. This information comes amid ongoing communication between KPK and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States.
The Deputy Chairman of KPK, Alexander Marwata, confirmed the coordination with the FBI and emphasized the agency’s commitment to collaborating with various entities, including the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the FBI, with a history of successful joint investigations such as the e-KTP case.
SAP, a global information technology company based in Germany, has been ordered to pay a fine of US$220 million (approximately Rp3.4 trillion) after being found guilty of bribing government officials in Indonesia and South Africa.
The fine was imposed following investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, citing violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The court documents revealed SAP’s involvement in bribery schemes in both Indonesia and South Africa, resulting in the company signing a deferred prosecution agreement, postponing legal action for three years.
The specifics of SAP’s misconduct include bribery payments to officials in Indonesian state-owned enterprises between 2015 and 2018. These illicit payments were made through various SAP agents to secure lucrative government contracts with ministries, agencies, and other institutions, including the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
The Assistant Attorney General of the United States, Nicole M Argentieri, highlighted SAP’s bribery activities, emphasizing the resolution as a significant milestone in the ongoing global fight against foreign bribery and corruption.
The collaboration between KPK and international law enforcement agencies, particularly the FBI and DoJ, reflects a coordinated effort to address transnational corruption issues. The SAP case underscores the importance of multinational cooperation in combating corruption, as evidenced by the successful resolution of previous cases, such as the e-KTP scandal.
The imposition of substantial fines on SAP serves as a deterrent and reinforces the commitment to holding corporations accountable for engaging in corrupt practices across borders. The involvement of Indonesian officials in the bribery scandal further emphasizes the need for comprehensive efforts to root out corruption at both national and international levels.
