Witness In The Gratification Case Of The Former Governor Of Bengkulu Handing Over Rp2 Million To The KPK

The trial of former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah and two other defendants/ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

BENGKULU - KPK Public Prosecutor (JPU) said one of the witnesses in the gratification and extortion case committed by former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah had deposited Rp2 million into the KPK account.

The money was handed over by the Head of the Bengkulu Province Animal Husbandry and Health Service, Syarkawi, to the KPK account. The prosecutor asked that the money be returned to the state and calculated as part of the replacement money for the defendant Rohidin.

"Against the evidence of the Rp2 million money, which was handed over on behalf of Syarkawi to the KPK account, we ask the panel of judges to be confiscated for the state," said Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutor Budi Santoso at the Bengkulu Corruption Crime District Court (Tipikor), Wednesday, August 13, reported by ANTARA.

In addition, the KPK prosecutor also denied all the defenses submitted by the three defendants and their attorneys, both related to the extortion articles applied and the gratification article.

"We deny all the arguments submitted by the defendant and his attorney. We will again explain that the arguments presented by the defendant and his attorney are not true and contrary to the facts of the trial, we will stick to the demands," he said.

Then, all the arguments presented by the defendants were not in line with the facts of the trial, so the demands that had been read out on July 30, 2025, the KPK prosecutor asked to be maintained.

On the other hand, Rohidin Mersyah's attorney, Aan Julianda, said that regarding the refund of Rp. 2 million, it should be used as evidence if the defendant does not control the money, as well as all heads of regional apparatus organizations (OPD) in Bengkulu Province who receive money from Rohidin Mersyah must also be traced.

"We stick to the pledoi that was conveyed, then regarding replacement money, the KPK should be fair, also investigate the head of the OPD who received the money. Because in the facts of the trial there was a head of the OPD who received the money, but why only Rp 2 million was returned," he said.

Previously, in the memorandum of defense, the defendant Rohidin Mersyah admitted that he did not use campaign funds for personal gain, such as buying houses and land as has been confiscated, but for political purposes during his 2024 election nomination campaign.

In addition, Rohidin also requested that the defendant Evriansyah alias Anca be released so that he could return to life with his family and return to become the state civil apparatus (ASN).

"I know Anca as a good aide, it is impossible for her to play her boss's money. She did not commit corruption, it was legal on my orders. I ask that she be given freedom so that she can run life as an ASN and live with her family," he explained.