KPK Opens Up The Possibility Of Snacking The Regent Of Hulu Sungai Utara For Money Laundering

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened an opportunity to develop a bribery case that ensnared the inactive Hulu Sungai Utara (HSU) Regent Abdul Wahid for money laundering (TPPU). However, this step must be supported by strong evidence.

This possibility arises because Abdul is suspected of not submitting all of his assets in the State Administrators Wealth Report (LHKPN).

"If in the future there is evidence of allegations of disguising the origin of the property that leads to the money laundering offence, the investigative team will certainly follow up," said Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Sector Ali Fikri to reporters quoted on Friday, December 3.

Even so, the KPK now prefers to investigate the alleged receipt of bribes and gratuities by Abdul. The reason is that money laundering investigations can only be carried out if it is found that there are allegations of changes in the form and disguise of previous acts of corruption.

Meanwhile, regarding the existence of other assets owned by Abdul but not being reported, Ali said of course this will be investigated by investigators. Moreover, currently there are a number of assets that have been confiscated, ranging from clinics to money in rupiah and foreign currencies.

"The investigative team is currently continuing to investigate the alleged receipt of bribes and gratuities by suspect AW. There are several assets belonging to the suspect that have been confiscated, including a building unit, a car, and a sum of money in rupiah and foreign currencies," he said.

For information, Abdul Wahid recorded assets of Rp. 5,368,816.339 in the LHKPN which was reported on March 31. In the report, he was recorded as having only two lands and a building in North Hulu Sungai Regency with a value of IDR 4,650,000,000.

Furthermore, he was recorded as having cash and cash equivalents in the amount of Rp. 718,816.339 and did not record other assets such as vehicles or other securities.

As previously reported, the KPK has appointed and detained the Regent of Hulu Sungai Utara, Abdul Wahid. This decision was made after the anti-custodial commission named three suspects who were caught in the red-handed operation (OTT) on September 15.

The three people who had already been named suspects and detained were the Acting Head of Public Works Office of the North Hulu Sungai Regency (HSU) Maliki; Director of CV Hanamas, Marhaini; and Director of CV Kalpataru, Fachriadi.

In this case, Abdul became a suspect because he received money from the Acting Head of the PUPRP Service, Maliki. The money was handed over according to his request for appointing Maliki.

In addition, Abdul also received a commitment fee of 10 percent from the work project in the Water Resources Sector of the Hulu Sungai Utara Office in 2021 with an amount of Rp. 500 million.

Next, he is also suspected of receiving Rp4.6 billion in 2019; Rp12 billion in 2020; and Rp. 1.8 billion in 2021. The money is given as a commitment fee from other projects that have been carried out by the private sector.