In The Aftermath Of The Bekasi Mayor's OTT, The KPK Suspects That There Are Parties Who Are Trying To Lead An Opinion

DOK VOI / ILLUSTRASI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says there are parties who are trying to lead an opinion related to the hand arrest operation (OTT) that ensnared the inactive Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi alias Pepen.

The party is considered to have given a counterproductive opinion regarding the law enforcement process carried out by the anti-corruption commission.

"There are still parties who try to lead counterproductive opinions in the law enforcement process that is being carried out by the KPK," Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Ali Fikri told reporters, Monday, January 10.

He said this kind of narrative actually contradicts existing legal facts and raises concerns. This is because it is not impossible that the public may have received erroneous information regarding the silent operation that was carried out on Wednesday, January 5.

Ali ensured that the arrests carried out and ensnared Pepen were in accordance with applicable legal principles and norms.

"In carrying out its duties and authorities, the KPK is guided by the principles of legal certainty, openness, accountability, public interest, proportionality, and respect for human rights," he stressed.

"So that it is impossible for the KPK to be selective in carrying out law enforcement to eradicate corruption," Ali added.

It is certain that the KPK will focus on investigating the alleged receipt of bribes related to the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions conducted by Pepen. This step, according to Ali, is also to prove the role of the Golkar Party politician in this case.

"So that later, it is the Panel of Judges who will decide according to their authority and independence, whether the parties referred to in the OTT for the case of corruption in the pawnshop of goods and services and the auction of positions in Bekasi City are proven guilty or not," he explained.

It was previously reported that Pepen's son, Ade Puspitasari, did not accept that his father was arrested for being involved in a corruption case. The chairman of the Bekasi City Golkar DPD even suspected that there was a special operation at the KPK to target the party bearing the banyan symbol.

This was conveyed by Ade through a video circulating on social media. However, he did not mention who was after him.

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

"There are a lot of witnesses, the staff at home are witnesses. How was Mr. Wali (Rahmat Effendi) picked up at home, how did Mr. Wali only bring the body. KPK only brought Mr. Wali'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," he said.

For information, 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 Investment Office and PTSP Bekasi City; 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.