Corruption In The Release Of Bengkulu Toll Road Land, The Attorney General's Office Names Lawyers As New Suspects

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) has again named a new suspect in the alleged corruption case in the land acquisition of the Bengkulu-Taba Penjung Toll Road in Central Bengkulu Regency.

"The determination of the suspect after undergoing a series of examinations since Tuesday afternoon at the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office Special Crime Building," said Head of the Investigation Section for Special Crimes at the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office, Danang Prasetyo, in Bengkulu, Wednesday, as reported by Antara.

The new suspect is a private party named Hartanto who is also a lawyer in Bengkulu.

"Profession as an advocate with nine residents affected by the construction (WTP) with approximately Rp. 15 billion, from the 9 WTP there is a flow of funds entering the suspect. Meanwhile, the money entering in the future is still being investigated," said Danang Prasetyo.

The Attorney General's Office also made detentions based on the Detention Order of the Head of the Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office Number PRINT-1693/L.7/Fd.2/10/2025 dated October 28, 2025.

The suspect is being held at the Class IIB Malabero Detention Center in Bengkulu City for the next 20 days, starting from October 28, 2025 to November 16, 2025.

According to him, the detention was carried out because it was feared that the suspect would run away, damage or destroy evidence and repeat his actions.

The Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Office is committed to continuing to enforce the law in a professional, transparent and fair manner in efforts to eradicate corruption in the jurisdiction of Bengkulu Province.

Previously, the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office had already named two people as suspects in the 2019-2020 toll land acquisition case.

The two suspects named Hazairin Masrie as the former Head of Central Bengkulu BPN and Ahadiya Seftiana as the Head of the Central Bengkulu Regency BPN Measurement Division.

The two people were named as suspects based on the adequacy of evidence and had to be responsible for causing an alleged corruption in the land acquisition of the Bengkulu-Taba Penjung Toll Road.

Investigators found that there was an incorrectity in the calculation of planting compensation, growing with a loss of approximately Rp. 4 billion.

As a result of their actions, the two suspects were suspected of being Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, which was amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.