Governor Rohidin Extorts Money Subordinates To Fund Bengkulu Regional Head Elections Since July 2024

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has heard information that Rohidin Mersyah has asked for money to run again as a candidate for governor of Bengkulu since July. There were reports that came in which were followed up with a hand arrest operation (OTT) on Saturday, November 23.

"So actually this investigation has been from a few months ago. Not only yesterday Friday," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata to reporters in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Sunday night, November 24.

Alexander explained that from the process, the KPK then carried out a silent operation when they received a report on the handover of money. "That's the peak," he said.

"But the series of activities itself... the operation has been long. Through clarification, verification from the reporter, the people who attended the meetings conveyed it to the KPK. We verified the truth then from the recording results, the reporter also submitted a recording related to the meetings until yesterday Friday there was information from the reporter that there would be a handover of money," continued the former Adhoc judge.

The KPK confirmed that the money found in the OTT that ensnared Rohadin was indeed related to the 2024 Pilkada. This is because there is evidence of a chat from a short message application.

Called Alexander, the money will later be handed over to the success team. "What does that mean, yes, indeed, it is in accordance with the direction of RM," he said.

As for this money, it is suspected that it came from Rohidin's subordinates in the Bengkulu Provincial Government. "So whether there is a political nuance, I don't think so," explained Alexander.

Previously reported, the KPK held a hand arrest operation (OTT) in Bengkulu Province on Saturday, November 23 and brought eight people for questioning. Then, three people were named as suspects, namely Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, Bengkulu Provincial Secretary (Sekda) Isnan Fajri and Evrianshah alias Anca who is the Adc Governor of Bengkulu.

When the OTT was carried out, investigators found IDR 7 billion in rupiah currency denominations, US dollars, and Singapore dollars. Furthermore, the suspects will be detained for the next 20 days and will be extended according to the rules and needs of investigators.

The three suspects are suspected of violating Article 12 letter e and Article 12B in Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended in Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.