The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Calls The Governor Of Riau Using Extortion Money To Go Abroad

Acting Deputy For Enforcement And Execution Of The KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that Riau Governor Abdul Wahid used extortion proceeds related to the addition of the 2025 budget allocated to the Road and Bridge UPT Region I-VI PUPR PKPP Office to go to a number of countries.

"Since the beginning, the person concerned has asked, well, for any activities, these are various activities. So, for the purposes concerned," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, November 5.

The money, continued Asep, was collected at Dani M. Nursalam as an expert who is also a suspect and its use is for Abdul Wahid's personal needs.

"There are some of these needs abroad, to the UK, this is why there is Poundsterling money because one of the activities is going or traveling abroad," he said.

Asep also explained that the money was also used by Abdul Wahid to travel to Brazil. "And the last one was going to Malaysia," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK named three suspects for alleged extortion related to the addition of the 2025 budget allocated to the UPT Jalan and Bridge Region I-VI PUPR PKPP Service. They are Riau Governor Abdul Wahid; M. Arief Setiawan as Head of the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, Settlement and Land Areas (PUPR PKPP) Riau Province; and Dani M. Nursalam as an expert for the Governor of Riau.

The determination of this suspect began with a hand arrest operation (OTT) on Monday, November 3. They have been detained for the first 20 days until November 23, 2025.

This case began when there was an additional 2025 budget allocated to the UPT Jalan and Jembatan Region I-VI PUPR PKPP Office, which was originally Rp71.6 billion to Rp177.4 billion.

It is suspected that there was a 2.5 percent ability to provide fees which were then discussed at a cafe in the Pekanbaru City area, Riau. The discussion was held between Ferry Yunanda as Secretary of the PKPP PUPR Service along with six UPTs.

Then Ferry conveyed the results of the meeting to M. Arief as Head of the Riau PUPR PKPP Service and representative Abdul Wahid. However, Arief actually asked for 5 percent or Rp. 7 billion and threatened to remove the Head of the UPT who did not deposit.

As a result of their actions, the suspects violated the provisions in Article 12e and/or Article 12f and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.