KPK Criticized By Mayor Rahmat Effendi's Daughter, Firli Bahuri: 'Not Because Of Politics But Referring To Evidence'

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi (center) is disabled when he is arrested by KPK officers in Jakarta (Photo: Antara Doc)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri denies the arrest of the inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi or commonly known as Pepen, who is politically motivated.

This was conveyed because of accusations from Pepen's daughter, Ade Puspitasari, who were busy on social media. In a video clip circulating on social media, the chairman of the Bekasi City Golkar DPD did not accept her father's arrest and said there was a special operation at the KPK targeting the party bearing the banyan symbol.

"A person becomes a suspect not because it was determined by the KPK, not an assumption, nor based on opinions or political interests," Firli said in a written statement to reporters quoted on Monday, January 10.

He emphasized that Pepen's arrest was based on sufficient evidence. After all, Firli said his institution would never engage in politics.

"The KPK does not participate and will not be involved in politics because the KPK is a state institution within the executive clump that is independent and the implementation of its duties and authorities is not affected by any power," said the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK.

"Please understand, as referred to in the law, a suspect is someone who because of his actions and/or circumstances based on sufficient preliminary evidence it is reasonable to suspect that he is the perpetrator of a criminal act," added Firli.

In her statement, Ade Puspitasari said that the Golkar Party is currently being targeted. However, she did not mention who was after it.

"Yellow is being targeted. We all know who is after yellow. But later in 2024, if yellow combines with orange, other colors will die," he said in a video circulating on social media.

Not only that, but he also said the arrest of her father was a form of character assassination. Moreover, during the arrest operation (OTT) on Wednesday, January 5, Ade said the KPK did not bring anything when they arrested Pepen.

"There are a lot of witnesses, the staff at home are witnesses. How was Mr. Mayor (Rahmat Effendi) picked up at home, how did Mr. Mayor only bring the body. KPK only brought Mr. Mayor's body, did not bring a penny," said Ade.

Ade assessed that OTT should be done when there is a transaction. "This does not exist. That the Mayor and the KPK did not bring money from the pavilion. The money that was in the KPK was money from party dues, from the head of the service, from the sub-district head. It was development, there was no OTT, indeed this was character assassination," she said.

As previously reported, the KPK has named Rahmat Effendi or Pepen along with eight other people as suspects in the alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions in the Bekasi City Government.

Pepen with M. Bunyamin who is the Secretary of the Bekasi City Investment Office and PTSP; Head of Jati 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 recipients of bribes.

Meanwhile, the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril; private company 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.

As recipients of bribes, Pepen and four other people 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 the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 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.

Meanwhile, the givers 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 2001 concerning Amendment On 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.