MI-17 choppers case to be consulted with president, says minister

On the occasion Director General of Means of Defense at the Ministry of Defense Rear Mashal Slamet Prihantino said the process of the procurement of the Mi-17-IV choppers had been going on for five years now because of the alleged corruption involved in the contract worth billions of US dollars.

He said that the procurement of the four helicopters bogged down following the withdrawal of the lender, Alternating Marine Supply DSM BHD, for failure in making the payment of 85 percent of the contract.

The case became worsened by alleged corruption of the downpayment supposed to be made by Swifth Air as business partner of Rosoboronexport in Indonesias for the procurement of the Mi-17 choppers.