Sidoarjo Regent Will Submit Pretrial, KPK: Right As A Form Of Control

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has invited Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali to file a pretrial after being named a suspect in alleged extortion of employees within the Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD). This legal effort is appreciated as a form of control.

This was conveyed by the Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri in response to the statement by Ahmad Muhdlor Ali's attorney, Mustofa Abidin, who said that his client would file a pretrial. The institution is definitely ready to face a lawsuit that is the right of the suspects.

"We appreciate the efforts to request the suspect's pretrial. We are ready to face it," Ali said in a written statement, Wednesday, April 17.

"As a control over the case settlement work by KPK investigators, it can be submitted as the suspect's right," he continued.

Even so, Ali said that this lawsuit would not mention the substance of the case but only test the formal and administrative requirements of the investigation. Thus, the submission will not stop the investigation process.

Ahmad Muhdlor Ali will even be summoned on Friday, April 19. "The summons for the person concerned has been scheduled to attend the KPK building," he said.

Ali reminded the Sidoarjo Regent to cooperate in fulfilling the summons. So he got the opportunity to explain the allegations that ensnared him in front of investigators.

Ahmad Muhdlor Ali's lawyer, Mustofa Abidin, said that the pretrial lawsuit was filed because he felt that the evidence found was too small for the regional head. In addition, a hand arrest operation (OTT) was carried out ahead of the 2024 General Election, although he did not explicitly state political ties.

Previously reported, the KPK named Ahmad Muhdlor Ali as a suspect in the alleged extortion of employees within the Regional Tax Service Agency (BPPD). In this case, they have already charged the Head of the General Subdivision of Personnel of the BPPD Sidoarjo Siska Wati as a suspect through a hand arrest operation (OTT) which resulted in the discovery of Rp69.9 million.

Furthermore, investigators determined the Head of BPPD Sidoarjo Ari Suyono. Siska allegedly cut a total of around Rp. 2.7 billion since 2023.

The notification of the money cut is said to have been done verbally. Employees are also not allowed to discuss it via text message.