The General Treasurer Of The Balikpapan Democratic DPC Is Also A Suspect In The Bribery Of The Penajam Paser Utara Regent

KPK press meeting on the determination of the suspect, Regent of Penajam Paser Utara Abdul Gafur Mas'ud/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has also named 5 other people as suspects apart from the Regent of Penajam Paser Utara Abdul Gafur Mas'ud from the result of a hand arrest operation (OTT). Also named as a suspect is the General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis.

Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata revealed that Balqis and five other people were named suspects for alleged bribery related to the procurement of goods and services as well as permits in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan in 2021-2022.

Balqis is with Abdul Gafur Mas'ud; Plt Secretary of Penajam Paser Utara Regency Mulyadi; Head of Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning of Penajam Paser Utara Regency Edi Hasmoro; and Head of the Penajam Paser Utara District Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Jusman, were named as recipients of bribes. Meanwhile, as the giver is a private company named Achmad Zudi.

"Sufficient preliminary evidence was found so that the KPK raised the status of this case to the investigation stage by announcing the suspect," Alexander said at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, January 13.

Alexander explained that this case began in 2021 where the Penajam Paser Utara Regency Government scheduled several work projects at the PUPR and Spatial Planning and Education, Youth and Sports Offices.

He said the project value reached Rp112 billion, with details for the multi-year project of upgrading Jalan Sotek-Bukit Subur with a contract value of Rp58 billion and the construction of a library building worth Rp9.9 billion.

"Due to this project, suspect AGM as the regent allegedly ordered MI as the Acting Secretary of the Penajam Paser Utara Regency, suspect EH as the Head of the RT PU Service, and JM as the Head of the Education, Youth and Sports Office to collect a sum of money from the partners already involved in working on physical projects," he said.

Next, the KPK also revealed that Abdul Gafur received a sum of money allegedly related to the issuance of permits, including permits for land use rights for oil palm and bleach plants or stone crushers at the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of Penajam Paser Utara Regency.

Apart from being ordered to collect money, Mulyadi along with Edi and Jusman also became Abdul's confidants to manage and represent himself receiving money from. The money was used for his personal interests.

Meanwhile, the suspect Abdul and Balqis just received and managed the incoming money. This money, said Alexander, went into an account belonging to Balqis which was also used for Abdul's interests.

"In addition, suspect AGM is also suspected of having received cash in the amount of Rp1 billion from suspect AZ who worked on a road project with a contract value of Rp64 billion in Penajam Paser Utara Regency," Alexander explained.

For his actions, Zuhdi is suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.

Meanwhile, Abdul, Mulyadi, Edi, Jusman, and Nur as recipients were suspected of violating Article 12 letter (a) or Article 12 letter (b) or Article 11 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law of the Republic of Indonesia 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.