Investigating Allegations Of Corruption In Mempawah, KPK Investigate Deviations When Ria Norsan Becomes Regent

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to investigate allegations of road project corruption at the Mempawah District Public Works (PU). They are currently looking for irregularities that allegedly occurred when West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan served as Regent of Mempawah.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo revealed that the search was carried out because the project carried out by the local government when Ria Norsan took office was related to the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) for Regional Transfers (TUD). The budgeting process to the procurement mechanism was traced from a number of witnesses.

"Among them are being investigated related to the proposed budget. Because this project is related to the TUD DAK in Mempawah Regency," Budi told reporters, Thursday, August 28.

"Now we will see what the proposal is like, what the mechanism is for disbursement, what the initial consultation technique was like, from the initial HPS to how much the realization will be. Now it is still being explored," he continued.

Budi agrees that a number of witnesses examined are aware of the practice of corruption.

"So that information from parties who also know the process is needed, namely the former Regent of Mempawah during the development era, the Deputy Regent and also civil servants in Mempawah Regency who do know about the budgeting mechanism in Mempawah Regency," he said.

In investigating corruption cases in Mempawah Regency, investigators have scheduled the summons of a number of witnesses. One of them is Ria Norsan as the former Regent of Mempawah who now serves as Governor of West Kalimantan.

The examination of Ria Norsan was carried out for about 12 hours and only finished at 21.00 WIB. Then, the day after or August 21, investigators summoned the former Deputy Regent of Mempawah Gusti Ramlana.

From the summons, investigators are said to be looking for Ria Norsan's participation. Because, as a regional head in the area, he is suspected of knowing the project work which ends up being corrupted.

"Indeed, there are allegations that every job is because in the work in the district, of course also because the funding is through the regional revenue budget, the regional head must know, both from budgeting and implementation. This is what we are currently investigating," said Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters at the KPK Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Tuesday, August 26.

As previously reported, the KPK searched a number of locations to look for evidence of alleged corruption in West Kalimantan Province on Sunday, April 27. The exact position is reported in Mempawah Regency.

In addition, forced efforts were also carried out in the Sanggau and Pontianak areas with a total of 16 locations. Investigators then found electronic evidence and a number of documents related to alleged corruption at the Mempawah District Public Works (PU) Office.

Later, the KPK said that this search was to find evidence of alleged corruption which was investigated using a new investigation letter (sprindik). It is suspected that there were allegations related to the increase in Sekabuk-Sei Sederam Road and the work of improving the Jalan Sekit Rama-Sei Semeram at the Public Works Office of Mempawah Regency for the 2015 Fiscal Year.

There are three suspects who have been named who have not been officially announced by the KPK. However, from the information gathered they are Abdurahman as a civil servant; Lutfi Kaharuddin who is an entrepreneur or President Director of PT Aditama Borneo Prima; and Idy Safriadi as a civil servant of Mempawah Regency.

The three of them are suspected of having caused the state to lose up to Rp40 billion. This amount is said to be changing because the calculation is still being carried out.