The Chair Of The Bekasi City DPRD Admits That Rahmat Effendi Was Given Rp200 Million In Cash

Head of the Bekasi City DPRD Chairoman J Putro admitted that the Mayor of Bekasi Rahmat Effendi was given Rp200 million in cash (Photo: Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Chair of the Bekasi City DPRD, Chairoman J Putro, admitted that the Mayor of Bekasi Rahmat Effendi or Pepen was given Rp200 million in cash. This confession was conveyed after he was examined by investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"So it's not exactly receiving (Rp 200 million) but handed it over," Chairoman told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, January 25.

Chairoman explained that at first he did not know the total amount of money given by Pepen through his trusted person, Lutfi. However, he later found out that the money was worth hundreds of millions after handing it over to the KPK.

He also did not know the reason Pepen gave the money to him. "Initially I didn't know how much it was. So the KPK officers calculated it directly and they calculated it at Rp. 200 million," he said.

"I also don't know (the allocation of the money, ed). Because the receipt was also handed over casually and (when it was handed over, ed) did not provide any explanation," added Chairoman.

Previously reported, Rahmat Effendi or Pepen along with eight other people were named by the KPK as suspects for alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as the auction of positions in the Bekasi City Government.

Pepen together with the Secretary of the Investment Office and PTSP, M Bunyamin; Head of Jatisari Village, Mulyadi; 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 four suspected givers are the Director of PT MAM Energindo, Ali Amril; private party, Lai Bui Min; Director of Kota Bintang Rayatri, Suryadi; and the sub-district head of Rawalumbu, Makhfud Saifudin.

In this case, 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 exchange 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.