Bekasi OTT Result, Allegations Of Character Assassination Emerged From The Mayor Rahmat Effendi's Daughter, Which Was Considered To Cause Commotion

JAKARTA - The daughter of the inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi, Ade Puspitasari does not accept her father being arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). She even accused the arrest and determination of her father as a suspect in receiving bribes as a form of character assassination.

This accusation was then answered by the KPK by stating that the arrest operation (OTT) carried out against Rahmat Effendi or Kang Pepen was in accordance with the procedure. Not only that but the accusations submitted are also considered to be able to trigger public commotion and misunderstanding.

In a video circulating on social media, Ade Puspitasari who is also the Chairperson of the Bekasi City Golkar DPD said that the OTT carried out by the KPK on Wednesday, January 5 was a form of character assassination.

She conveyed this when attending the inauguration of the Golkar Party sub-district board on Saturday, January 8. At that time, Ade said that no penny was brought by the KPK when they arrested his father.

"There are many witnesses, the staff at home are witnesses. How was Mr. Mayor (Rahmat Effendi) picked up at home, how did Mr. Mayor only bring the body. The KPK only brought Mr. Mayor's body, did not bring any money," Ade said in the circulating video.

Ade assessed that OTT should be done when there is a transaction. "This does not exist. That the Mayor and the KPK did not bring money from the pavilion. The money in the KPK is money from third-party contributions, from the head of the service, from the sub-district head. That is development, there is no OTT, indeed this is character assassination," she asserted.

She did not stop there, she accused the KPK of politicization by arresting her father. Ade said that the Golkar Party is currently being targeted but she did not say who was targeting.

"Yellow is being targeted. We all know who is after yellow. But later in 2024, if yellow combines with orange, other colors will die," she said.

This video also reached the KPK and was responded to by the Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri. He emphasized that the silent operation that was carried out and captured Pepen was in accordance with applicable procedures.

"We emphasize that all KPK arrests are carried out in accordance with applicable legal procedures," Ali said in a written statement, Sunday, January 9.

Ali said all these activities were also well documented in photos and videos. "It is very clear (who, ed) the parties caught in the OTT along with the evidence," he said.

With the photos and videos, the KPK then reminded that no party should have arbitrary opinions. Moreover, in carrying out these enforcement activities, the anti-corruption commission team certainly does it according to the applicable rules.

After all, this kind of counterproductive speech will only lead to misunderstandings. "And make noise in the law enforcement process that has complied with the principle," said Ali.

In addition, the KPK is also confirmed not to play any politics. Anyone who practices corruption, continued Ali, will be dealt with indiscriminately.

"The handling of cases by the KPK is indiscriminate and certainly not related to the socio-political background of the perpetrators," he said.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Rahmat Effendi or Pepen along with eight other people as suspects in the alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions in the Bekasi City Government.

Pepen is suspected of receiving billions of rupiah as a commitment fee from the private sector whose land was acquired for a project belonging to the Bekasi City Government and received compensation. However, he called the money a mosque donation code.

In addition to the bribes above, the anti-corruption commission also revealed that Pepen received money related to project management and contract labor at the Bekasi City Government in the amount of Rp. 30 million. The money was given by the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril, and received by the Secretary of the Investment Office and PTSP Bekasi City, M Bunyamin.

Later, he also received some money from employees at the Bekasi City Government in return for their position. However, it did not specify how much money the Golkar Party politician received.

However, the money found from the gifts given by the employees was only Rp600 million left when the silent operation was carried out. Allegedly, the money already exists which was used in part to meet its operational needs.