KPK Searches Probolinggo Regent's Office

PROBOLINGGO - The KPK investigators searched the office of the regent of Probolinggo, East Java. The search was related to the investigation into the bribery case of buying and selling positions with the now inactive Probolinggo Regent, Puput Tantriana Sari.

There were 5 cars that took the KPK team to the Probolinggo regent's office. Probolinggo Regional Secretary Soeparwiyono confirmed the search. He said the KPK team did not bring any items or files at the time.

"It was on the second floor, nothing was brought. It didn't even take one hour to be inside," he said, Thursday, September 2.

The Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Karyoto said the vacant position of village head due to the delay in the implementation of the village head election (pilkades) was used by the Regent of Probolinggo Puput Tantriana Sari and her husband who is also a member of the DPR Hasan Aminuddin for alleged corruption.

Moreover, the regent has the prerogative to choose the acting village head and this is what Puput takes advantage of.

"This is the prerogative of the regent and then while filling the vacancy. So they are appointed and used because there is the regent's authority," Karyoto said in a press conference broadcast on the KPK RI YouTube, Tuesday, August 31.

Karyoto said Puput should look for the best person to become the acting village head instead of selling seats for Rp. 20 million for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in the Probolinggo Regency Government.

"There should be a proposal to look for the best, but this is looking for an agreement so that there is a vote on the party who will be appointed as acting," said Karyoto.

The same thing, continued Karyoto, might actually happen in other areas that hold the Pilkades simultaneously.

"(Pilkades, ed) simultaneously can be a stimulus for the occurrence of opportunities like this," said Karyoto.

Therefore, the KPK will continue to monitor in a certain way and will follow up if there are direct reports from the public.

"We will not remain silent. According to the limits of our ability, we will monitor in a certain way. Of course we will look for it, if there is a possibility that a motive like this may follow," he said.

In this case, the KPK has named 22 suspects consisting of four bribe recipients and 18 givers.

The four recipients were Probolinggo Regent Puput Tantriana Sari, DPR member Hasan Aminuddin, Krejengan sub-district head Doddy Kurniawan, and Paiton sub-district head Muhamad Ridwan.

While the 18 donors namely Sumanto, Ali Wafa, Mawardi, Mashudi, Maliha, Mohammad Bambang, Masruhen, Abdul Wafi, Kho'im, Akhmad Saifullah, Jaelani, Uhar, Nurul Hadi, Nuruh Huda, Hasan, Sahir, Sugito, and Syamsuddin as suspects giver. They are all state civil apparatus (ASN) in Probolinggo.