KPK Prosecutor: Bribery Rp2 Billion To Nurdin Abdullah For Charity, Buy Jetskis And Boat Engines

MAKASSAR - Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Muh Asri stated that the Rp2 billion bribe money to Nurdin Abdullah (the Governor of South Sulawesi inactive) was used for charitable activities and bought two jetskis and boat engines.

"We just want to clarify where the money came from and how it was used and what it was used for," said Muh Asri on the sidelines of the trial at the Makassar Corruption Court, quoted by Antara, Thursday, October 14.

Asri said the Rp2 billion money was in accordance with the information in the minutes of examination (BAP) of the witnesses and the defendant that the money came from businessmen H Momo and Hj Indar.

KPK Prosecutor Asri stated that the Rp2 billion was used for charity, according to witness statements, where the money was exchanged for new money at Bank Mandiri's Panakkukang Branch.

According to him, the testimony of the former head of the Panakkukang Branch of Bank Mandiri Muh Ardi, out of Rp2 billion, only Rp800 million that could be exchanged for new money.

While the remaining Rp 1.2 billion was used to buy two jetskis and outboard engines for fast boats or speed boats.

"So the statements of the witnesses only want to harmonize with the criminal events that have occurred," he said.

Witness former Head of Bank Mandiri Panakkukang Branch Muh Ardi while testifying before a panel of judges chaired by Ibrahim Palino admitted that the exchange of shabby money for new money took place on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

"So there was a submission from Mr. Nurdin that if there was Rp. 2 billion in money, it would be exchanged for alms and the money was brought by an aide, Mr. Salman," he said.

Ardi said that the Rp2 billion that Salman Natsir brought was placed in a yellow-gray suitcase, and the plan was to exchange it for new money because the money in the suitcase was worn out.

However, after checking the safe, he only had IDR 400 million which was in new condition with IDR 100 thousand denominations of IDR 300 million and IDR 50 thousand denominations of IDR 100 million.

"After exchanging IDR 400 million, I was entrusted with IDR 1.6 billion. But I didn't want it because it wasn't bank customer's money because the customer's money had insurance. After the afternoon, Mr. Salman came back and exchanged another IDR 400 million, but what was exchanged was shabby money and a little new money," he said.

After exchanging Rp800 million, he was again entrusted with Rp1.2 billion by Salman. He admits that someone will take the money later.

"Not long after Salman left, there was Mr. Nurdin's WA, he said the money would be taken by Uji (Fauzi). But I waited until the evening at the office did not come, until I finally went home. Tomorrow at 08:00 in the morning, I just called Uji and said that in the afternoon I just went to the bank took the money," he said.

However, when Fauzi, who is none other than Nurdin Abdullah's youngest son, came to the bank, not to take money, but asked Ardi to transfer Rp1.2 billion to the accounts of Eric Horas (member of the Makassar DPRD) and Irham Samad (Director of Jetski Safari Makassar) .

"The money was transferred to Eric Horas's account for Rp354 million because he was a fellow Mandiri. But for Irham Samad it could not be because of another bank account. Finally, an account was created and transferred Rp797 million, and the remaining Rp48 million," he said.