Head Of East Java Head Office Admits He Has Not Received Report On Alleged Extortion From Head Of Regional Office Of The Ministry Of Religion

Kajati Jatim M. Dhofir/PHOTO: AM Sby-VOI

SURABAYA - The Head of the East Java High Prosecutor's Office (Kajati), M. Dhofir, said that the East Java Prosecutor's Office had not yet received a case report of alleged illegal levies, the Head of the East Java Ministry of Religion's Regional Office, Husnul Maram. In fact, the case has been reported to the East Java Prosecutor's Office by LBH Garda Nusantara, and the Surabaya Indonesian Law Student Senate Association (ISMAHI).

"We haven't received any information from the East Java Police either, because there is no report here (East Java Prosecutor's Office)," said Dhofir, during a press conference on the 2021 East Java Prosecutor's Office Performance Achievement, at the East Java District Attorney's Office in Surabaya, Friday, December 31.

Previously, the reporter, LBH Garda Nusantara, had pocketed a receipt after reporting the case to the East Java Prosecutor's Office

However, Dhofir promised to follow up if there were reports coming in, related to cases of alleged extortion within the Ministry of Religion. "So there is still no report, if it comes in, we will investigate (follow up)," said Dhofir.

Previously, LBH Garda Nusantara and the Indonesian Law Student Senate Association (ISMAHI) Surabaya, reported the Head of the Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) East Java, Husnul Maram, to the East Java High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati), Monday, December 27, 2021. He was reported for alleged cases of corruption and illegal levies (extortion) against 31 KUA throughout Surabaya, while serving as Head of the Surabaya Ministry of Religion in 2020.

"We strongly suspect that there was extortion allegedly carried out by Mr. Husnul Maram while serving as the Surabaya Ministry of Religion. Now, this extortion is included in a criminal act of corruption," said Director of LBH Garda Nusantara, Amirullah Yusuf, when met at the East Java Prosecutor's Office.

In addition to Maram, Amir, as he is familiarly called, admitted that he also reported Husni, who at that time served as Head of Islamic Guidance at the Ministry of Religion for the City of Surabaya in 2020. Husni acted as the person who signed, regarding the alleged extortion. "This extortion is carried out through the procurement of electronic fingerprint attendance machines (fingerprint) at 31 Religious Affairs Offices (KUA) throughout Surabaya," he said.

Amir explained that the extortion was carried out against 31KUA ASN throughout Surabaya in 2020, when Husnul Maram served as Head of the Surabaya Ministry of Religion. At that time, the Surabaya Ministry of Religion issued a circular (SE) No. B-748/Kk.13.29.6/Kp.01/06/2020.

In the SE, continued Amir, 31 KUA in Surabaya are required to pay a fingerprint usage fee of Rp. 175 thousand per month. Amir continued, the fingerprint facility should be facilitated by the state and free of charge.

Amir said that the Surabaya Ministry of Religion's policies contradicted the Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 54 of 2010, and the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia No. 75 of 2021 concerning Goods/Services Procurement Service Units within the Ministry of Religion.

"Well, while the Surabaya Ministry of Religion is actually collaborating with the private sector, namely PT. Innovation Citra Technology. Each KUA is charged a fee and ordered to transfer it to an individual account," he said.

Amir also urged the East Java Prosecutor's Office to take concrete steps with the existence of the extortion case. Amir did not want Husnul Maram, who currently serves as the Head of Regional Office of the East Java Ministry of Religion, to do the same in the East Java region.

"If this is true, the evidence is that the Minister of Religion (Menag) is not observant, insensitive. How can East Java be led by people like this," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Regional Office of the East Java Ministry of Religion, Husnul Maram, was surprised when this was confirmed. In fact, he admitted that he was not aware of any reports of alleged extortion that took his name. "Sorry, I just found out. Thank you," Husnul Maram replied briefly when confirmed.