Nurdin Abdullah Becomes A “Patient” Of Corruption Eradication Commission, Bung Hatta Award Evaluates The Anti-Corruption Award

JAKARTA - The Bung Hatta Anti-Corruption Award (BHACA) management admitted that he was shocked and regretted that the inactive South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah was appointed as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Furthermore, BHACA will review the award given to Nurdin when he served as Regent of Bantaeng in 2017.

"P-BHACA is very surprised and regrets the developments that have occurred. If in the future it is proven that there has been abuse/betrayal of the values mentioned above, then P-BHACA's policy is to review the award again", said the Chairman of the P-Executive Board. BHACA, Shanti L. Poesposoetjipto in her written statement, Tuesday, March 2.

She then explained that Nurdin was the recipient of the award when he served as Regent of Bantaeng for two periods from 2008 to 2018. He is considered to have fostered good and clean governance and eradicating corruption.

"Through a rigorous selection process, where award recipients are selected through a very thorough and careful process by an independent jury in 2017, Nurdin Abdullah as Regent of Bantaeng was named one of the recipients of the BHACA award, who upholds the values of integrity and honesty and independence", she explained.

Shanti said that P-BHACA will continue to follow the ongoing legal process. In addition, further evaluation is deemed necessary because the withdrawal of the award requires the same accuracy as during the awarding ceremony.

"Therefore, the P-BHACA Board will evaluate internally through the due diligence process in effect at P-BHACA where the recall of an award requires a process that is no less thorough", she said.

As previously reported, Nurdin Abdullah was named a suspect in the case of alleged bribery and gratification related to the procurement of goods and services, licensing, and infrastructure development in the South Sulawesi Provincial Government for the 2020-2021 Budget.

He was named a suspect with the Secretary of the Minister For Public Works and Human Settlements (PUPR) Office of South Sulawesi Province Edy Rahmat. Meanwhile, the Director of PT Agung Perdana Bulukumba (APB) Agung Sucipto was named a suspect in giving bribes.

In this case, Nurdin as the Governor of South Sulawesi is suspected of accepting bribes and gratuities with a total value of IDR 5.4 billion related to projects within the South Sulawesi Provincial Government.

In addition, Nurdin is suspected of receiving a bribe of IDR 2 billion from Agung through Edy. The bribe was given so that Agung could return to work on the project in South Sulawesi for the 2021 budget.