KPK Officers Fly To Ambon, Forced Pick Up Mayor Richard Louhenapessy

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) forcibly picked up Ambon Mayor, Richard Louhenapessy. The pick-up was done because he was uncooperative when summoned in the alleged bribery case for licensing the construction of the Alfamidi retail branch in Ambon City in 2020.

"So far, we have not received any information on the presence of the party who has been named a suspect", said KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, May 13.

"One of the suspects is not cooperative, so the KPK investigator team is still in the process of forcibly picking up the parties, especially one person", he added.

After the pick-up, Ali said Richard would immediately be taken to the anti-corruption commission headquarters. There, he will be further examined by investigators.

"The person concerned is in the process of being brought to the KPK's Red and White Building and immediately examined by the KPK investigators team", he said.

Previously, the KPK was investigating allegations of bribery in granting permits to build retail branches in Ambon in 2020.

However, the parties who have been named as suspects have not been announced as well as the construction of the case. This announcement will be made at the same time as an attempt to force an arrest or detention.

In addition, the KPK has asked the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to prevent the suspects from going abroad.