Rohidin Mersyah Allegedly Forms Of Timces From OPD Elements And Orders To Find Money For 'Sawer' Bengkulu Gubernatorial Election Voters

KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardika/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah formed a successful team from elements of regional apparatus organizations (OPD) and ordered them to collect money. Six witnesses were questioned in this regard on Wednesday, January 22.

"The witness was present and investigated regarding orders from the suspects RM and IF to form a successful team from the OPD Elements and collect money from the OPD," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika to reporters in a written statement, Friday, January 24.

The witnesses who were questioned were the Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Industry and Trade Office, Foritha Ramadhani Wati; Yulswani as the Head of the Bengkulu Province Bappeda; and the Head of the Bengkulu Regional Personnel Agency, Gunawan Suryadi.

In addition, investigators also examined Soemarno, who is the Head of the Human Resources Development Agency of Bengkulu Province; Heru Susanto as the Inspector of Bengkulu Province; and the Head of the Dukcapil Office of Syahjudin Province.

The money that was later collected, Tessa said, was allegedly used to meet Rohidin's needs who was running as an incumbent candidate. "To attract prospective voters," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK held a hand arrest operation (OTT) in Bengkulu Province on Saturday, November 23 and brought eight people for questioning. Three people were later named as suspects, namely Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, Bengkulu Provincial Secretary (Sekda) Isnan Fajri and Evrianshah alias Anca who is the Adc Governor of Bengkulu.

When the OTT was carried out, investigators found IDR 7 billion in rupiah currency denominations, US dollars, and Singapore dollars. The extortion and acceptance of gratuities is said to finance Rohidin, who is back running as a candidate for incumbent.

As a result of his actions, these three suspects are suspected of violating Article 12 letter e and Article 12B in Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended in Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.