KPK Holds A Meeting Chaired By The Mayor Of Bekasi And Receipts Of Money Through Intermediaries

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi/DOK: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has finished examining eight witnesses related to allegations of bribery in the procurement of goods and services and the auction of positions at the Bekasi City Government, West Java.

The witnesses were the Head of the Bekasi City Government Spatial Planning Office, Junaedi; Head of the Bekasi City Population and Civil Registry Office, Taufik R Hidayat; Head of the Environmental Service, Samad Saefuloh; Bekasi City Disperkimtan Staff Usman; and Secretary of the Christian Education Office.

In addition, there are also Finance Staff of PT MAM Energindo, Etti Satriati; and two private employees namely Tari and Akbar. They were examined, Tuesday, January 18th.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said that from the witnesses there were a number of things being investigated. This includes money received by Pepen through intermediaries.

"Witnesses were present and confirmed, among others, related to the alleged flow of money received by the suspect RE, including through the intermediary of several parties," said Ali to reporters, Wednesday, January 19.

In addition, investigators are also exploring the existence of a meeting chaired directly by Pepen. The meeting, said Ali, was supposed to determine the contractor who would work on the project in Bekasi City.

"In addition, the witnesses were also investigated further regarding the alleged meeting led by the suspect RE to specifically determine the contractors who will work on several projects in Bekasi City," he 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 is suspected of receiving billions of rupiah as a commitment fee from the private sector 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.

In addition to the bribes above, the anti-corruption commission revealed that Pepen also 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.

Furthermore, he received some money from employees at the Bekasi City Government in return for their position. However, it did not specify how much money the Golkar Party politician received.

However, the money found from the gifts given by the employees was only Rp600 million left when the silent operation was carried out. Allegedly, the money already exists which was used in part to meet its operational needs.