KPK Confirms Witness Related To North Penajam Paser Regent Case Will Be Examined

Abdul Gafur Mas'ud (second from front)/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that all parties suspected of knowing about the alleged bribery of North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud will be investigated. Any party deemed to be correlated in this case will be summoned for questioning.

"KPK will summon any party with knowledge that correlates or relates to the case we are investigating," said KPK Deputy Chair Nurul Ghufron to reporters, Wednesday, January 19.

Ghufron also emphasized that the summoning of the witnesses would not be interfered with by anyone. The entire legal process to investigate this case will of course be carried out in accordance with applicable procedures.

"(The summons of witnesses, ed) without being asked or encouraged by any party," he said.

"This is our procedure to clarify whether the receipt of bribes is received by the suspect or to develop other allegations of corruption," added Ghufron.

As previously reported, the KPK appointed Abdul Gafur with the Plt Secretary of North Penajam Paser Regency, Mulyadi; Head of Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning of North Penajam Paser Regency Edi Hasmoro; and Head of the North Penajam Paser District Education, Youth and Sports Office, Jusman, and the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC General Treasurer, Nur Afifah Balqis as bribe recipients.

Meanwhile, as a suspect for giving bribes, the KPK has named a private party named Achmad Zudi. These six people were named as suspects in alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as granting permits in North Penajam Paser Regency.

Their determination was initiated from a hand-catching operation (OTT) which was held on Wednesday, January 12 in two locations, namely Jakarta and North Kalimantan. From the results of the action, the KPK also confiscated Rp1 billion and Rp447 million in Balqis's account.