Case Of Alleged Fraud, Former Candidate For Mayor Of Palembang Sarimuda Arrested By Police

PALEMBANG - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the South Sumatra Regional Police arrested Sarimuda, a former candidate for Mayor of Palembang, on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement of land purchases.

"It is true that he was arrested last night, Thursday (4/11)," said the Director of General Crime Investigation of the South Sumatra Police, Kombes Hisar Siallagan in Palembang, Friday, November 5.

According to him, Sarimuda was arrested along with one other reported person, namely Margnono Mangkunegoro, and both have been detained at the South Sumatra Police Headquarters.

"Both of them have been detained for the next 20 days to undergo examination by investigators," he said.

Based on the information gathered, both of them were reported to have committed fraud and embezzlement of land by Anton Nurudin with a Police Report numbered LP/B-852/XI/SPKT Polda Sumsel dated September 20, 2021.

The report explains that the case began when the victim he represented bought a plot of land covering an area of 26 hectares (ha) in Tanjung Baru Village, Muara Belida District, Muara Enim Regency, from Margono and Irwan Safrizal for Rp26 billion.

Sarimuda's capacity in buying and selling is as an intermediary representing Margono to meet with victims.

Because before the land was purchased, Sarimuda convinced the victim and said the land was safe and had no problems.

However, after the purchase and payment was made, it turned out that the land parcels could not be controlled by the victim because there were obstacles from the community who acknowledged that the plots of land were 7 parcels.

Then there is also one SHM Number 35 which is still being handled in the PTUN and cannot be processed back by the victim. Both of them were subject to Articles 372 and 378 of the Criminal Code regarding fraud and embezzlement.