Caught Zoom Meeting With Sympathizers At The KPK Detention Center, Bekasi Mayor Apologizes

Photo of the Mayor of Bekasi, Rahmat Effendi, holding a Zoom meeting with Golkar Party cadres circulating / SPECIAL

JAKARTA - The Mayor of Bekasi, Rahmat Effendi or Pepen, apologized for the polemic of an online visit or Zoom Meeting he held with sympathizers. This was conveyed by his attorney, Tito Hananta Kusuma.

"Our client apologizes for the incident," said Tito on behalf of Pepen in a written statement quoted on Sunday, January 23.

In addition to apologizing, Pepen, who is a suspect in the bribery of procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions, promised to comply with the rules for online visits to the inmates of the KPK Detention Center. Where visits or Zoom Meetings are limited to family members and legal representatives.

Even so, Tito claimed that Pepen did not know about the presence of his sympathizers in the Zoom Meeting. He even said the incident happened suddenly without planning.

"Mr. Pepen was completely unaware of his sympathizers suddenly entering and did not plan this at all," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK will evaluate the rules for online visits for detainees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was done after the photo of the Mayor of Bekasi, Rahmat Effendi, was deactivated during a Zoom meeting with Golkar Party cadres.

In the circulating photo, Pepen is seen wearing a white shirt talking in front of the camera. Meanwhile, party cadres called Golkar Party cadres were watching on a tablet.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said that every detainee has the right to be visited by his family or legal adviser. However, Pepen's action to take advantage of the opportunity to conduct a Zoom Meeting with Golkar Party cadres is very unfortunate.

"KPK deeply regrets that the detainee is suspected of meeting online with other parties as stipulated in the applicable provisions," Ali told reporters, Thursday, January 20.

"We will evaluate both the KPK detainees and detention centers so that in the detention center services, they are guided by the provisions and SOPs," he added.