BALINEWSID.COM, JAKARTA – House of Representatives (DPR RI) Commission III member Abdullah has called on the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to thoroughly investigate an alleged coal supply corruption case believed to have triggered widespread power outages (blackouts) across Sumatra and several other regions in Indonesia. He urged investigators to identify and prosecute everyone responsible, including any officials found to have played a role.

“The investigation into the alleged coal corruption case must become the starting point for reforming the way corruption in strategic sectors is handled,” Abdullah said on Wednesday (July 8, 2026).

His remarks came after the National Police’s Corruption Crime Corps (Kortas Tipikor) officially elevated the alleged corruption case involving coal supplies for coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) to the investigation stage.

Investigators have identified two companies suspected of committing a series of legal violations in fulfilling coal supply contracts. Among the alleged schemes uncovered are document forgery, manipulation of the quantity of coal delivered to power plants, and irregularities in contract payments that did not reflect the actual volume of coal supplied.

Authorities estimate the fraudulent practices took place over a six-year period, causing state losses of approximately Rp5 trillion.

Abdullah welcomed the National Police’s decision to move forward with the investigation but stressed that law enforcement must pursue all parties involved, not only private companies.

“This positive step must be followed by measured and comprehensive law enforcement. We hope the National Police will immediately identify those responsible for this alleged corruption. The investigation should not stop with private companies but must also examine the role of regulators because public service sectors such as energy involve more than just corporate actors,” he said.

According to Abdullah, the case demonstrates how corruption in Indonesia’s strategic sectors has become increasingly sophisticated, involving complex transaction chains, multiple business entities, and financial flows that are difficult to trace.

He argued that the success of law enforcement should not be measured solely by the number of suspects named but by the state’s ability to dismantle the entire criminal network that enabled the corruption to continue for years.

Abdullah also called for investigators to adopt follow the money and follow the asset approaches, enabling authorities to identify intellectual masterminds, beneficial owners, and assets acquired through criminal proceeds while maximizing the recovery of state losses.

Furthermore, he urged stronger coordination among the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the State Audit Board (BPK), and other law enforcement agencies through a Joint Financial Crime Investigation mechanism for corruption cases involving natural resources and the energy sector.

He emphasized the need for real-time financial data sharing, stronger financial forensic capabilities, and faster asset seizure and recovery procedures to prevent illicit assets from being transferred or concealed.

On the preventive side, Abdullah encouraged the government to accelerate the development of a corruption risk profile for the energy sector to support early detection of potential irregularities throughout the national energy supply chain.

He expressed hope that the ongoing investigation would become a turning point in strengthening integrity within Indonesia’s energy sector, making public services more transparent and ensuring they are protected by a more effective oversight system.