Banjarnegara Regent Budhi Sarwono, Who Once Went Viral Because Of A Rp5.9 Million Salary Slip, Is Now A Corruption Suspect

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Banjarnegara Regent Budhi Sarwono as a suspect in the alleged corruption case in the procurement project at the PUPR Service. He was appointed with his confidant who was the former chairman of his success team during the 2017 Regional Head Election, Kedy Afandi.

In this case, the Regent of Banjarnegara Budhi allegedly received a commitment fee of around Rp. 2.1 billion from various infrastructure projects in Banjarnegara Regency.

"The acceptance of a commitment fee of 10 percent by BS is carried out directly or through a KA intermediary," said KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Friday, September 3.

The receipt of the money began when in September 2017, Budhi was inaugurated as the Regent of Banjarnegara. After being official, he ordered Kedy as his confidant to lead a coordination meeting attended by representatives of the construction service association in Banjarnegara Regency.

Banjarnegara Regent Budhi Sarwono once went viral on social media regarding salary slips in October 2019.

The photo of the Banjarnegara Regent's salary slip went viral after being uploaded to the @kabupatenbanjarneegara Instagram account by the Banjarnegara Regency Communication and Information Office.

Photo of the salary slip for October 2019, the Regent of Banjarnegara shows the salary he received Rp. 6,114,110 and after deducting Rp. 152,900 of zakat, the remaining Rp. 5,961,200.

"The salary includes child and wife allowances," said Regent Budhi Sarwono, quoted by Antara on October 4, 2019.

However, Budhi Sarwono admits that apart from salary, he gets an operational allowance of IDR 1 million per day if he visits the field.

According to him, the operational allowance is used to cover meals with Satpol PP officers, escort patrols and other officers who participate in field visits.

"Are they told to eat alone? I stick to Pancasila. We have to humanize humans," he said at the time.

Controversy was also attached to the Regent of Banjarnegara when he referred to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as 'Luhut the tailor'. Later, Budhi Sarwono apologized.

"I'm sorry that yesterday I mentioned Mr. Penjaitan, because I don't remember the long name, I now read it clearly and I apologize, Mr. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan," said Budhi in a video seen by VOI, Tuesday, 24 August.

Budhi stated that he had no intention of insulting Luhut for the mispronunciation of the name. He claims to be all he can to talk.

Budhi also apologized to the people of Tapanuli who have the Pandjaitan clan, for calling them tailors. He admitted that he did not know the Tapanuli clan and only understood it later.

"To all Tapanuli residents, we have no bad intentions to insult anyone. But forgive me for my limitations, my abilities and my weaknesses, so I ask for your sincere forgiveness," said Budhi.

"I have no intention of insulting. If I am considered insulting, I am ready to be condemned by anything," he said.

Now the Regent of Banjarnegara has become a corruption suspect and is being detained by the KPK. The Banjarnegara Regent and Kedy were suspected of violating Article 12 letter i and Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Act (Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 1 of the Criminal Code.

Currently, the two are being held in two different remand centers for the next 20 days. Budhi is being held at the KPK Rutan Kavling C1 and Kedy is being held at the KPK Rutan Pomdam Jaya Guntur Branch.