Bribery Of 'Mosque Donations' And Bekasi City Government Employees Deposit Deliver Mayor Rahmat Effendi To KPK Detention Center

Chairman of the KPK Firli Bahuri and evidence of OTT money from the Mayor of Bekasi Rahmat Effendi (Photo: Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi or familiarly known as Kang Pepen as a suspect in receiving bribes. He is suspected of receiving money related to the procurement of goods and services as well as the sale and purchase of positions.

The determination of him as a suspect began with a hand arrest operation (OTT) which was carried out on Wednesday, January 5. Pepen is the first regional head to be arrested by the KPK earlier this year.

In a press conference, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri revealed that Pepen received billions of rupiah as a commitment fee from private parties whose land was acquired for a project belonging to the Bekasi City Government and received compensation. However, he called the money a mosque donation code.

"As a form of commitment, suspect RE is suspected of asking for money from parties whose land was compensated by the Bekasi City Government, including by using the designation for mosque donations," said Firli at the KPK's Merah Putih Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, January 6.

Furthermore, Firli said that the private sector is Lai Bui Min; Director of PT Kota Bintang Rayatri, Suryadi; and the sub-district head of Rawalumbu, Makhfud Saifudin, handed over some money through Pepen's confidant.

They are the Head of the Bekasi City Housing, Settlement and Defense Office, Jumhana Lutfi, and the Head of Jatisampurna Sub-district, Wahyudin.

"These parties handed over a sum of money through intermediaries of their trusted people, JL who received Rp 4 billion from LBM, WY who received Rp 3 billion from MS, and on behalf of a donation to one of the mosques under the RE family's foundation in the amount of Rp. Rp100 million from SY," he said.

In addition to the bribes above, the KPK also revealed that Pepen received money related to project management and contract labor at the Bekasi City Government in the amount of Rp. 30 million. The money was given by the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril, and received by the Secretary of the Investment Office and PTSP Bekasi City, M Bunyamin.

Next, Firli revealed that Pepen received some money from employees at the Bekasi City Government as a reward for their position. However, it did not specify how much money the Golkar Party politician received.

Firli only said that the money found from the gifts given by the employees was only Rp600 million left when the silent operation was carried out. He said Pepen used the money he received to meet his operational needs.

As for the determination of the suspect, Pepen together with M. Bunyamin who is the Secretary of the Investment Office and PTSP of Bekasi City; Head of Kati Sari Village, Mulyadi alias Bayong; Jatisampurna Sub-district Head, Wahyudin; and the Head of the Bekasi City Housing, Settlement and Land Office, Jumhana Lutfi, were named as bribe recipients.

Meanwhile the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril; private named Lai Bui Min; Director of PT Kota Bintang Rayatri, Suryadi; and the sub-district head of Rawa Lumbu, Makhfud Saifudin, was named the bribe giver.

After being named a suspect, Pepen refused to comment. He chose to remain silent and looked down after being examined by investigators for 24 hours.

The other suspects also showed the same attitude. Furthermore, Pepen along with eight other suspects will be detained in a number of different KPK detention houses.

"The suspects are currently being held in detention in the detention center for the first 20 days starting from January 6, 2022, to January 25, 2022," said Firli.

For their actions, Pepen and other bribe recipients are suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 and Article 12 letter f and Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 1999. 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

While the bribe givers are suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendment to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code.