KPK Will Recall Andi Arief, If Absenteeism Continues To Be Forced

DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened up an opportunity to forcibly summon the Chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Democratic Party, Andi Arief, if he is absent again for the next summons.

This assurance was conveyed by the Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri. He said that Andi was summoned by investigators because his statement was needed to clarify the allegations of bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as permits that ensnared the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud.

"If one summons is not present, of course we will call again and there are the following legal steps (forced summons, ed) against witnesses who were later summoned but deliberately did not attend," Ali told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, March 28.

Even so, Ali believes Andi Arief is a good citizen. Thus, the Democrat Party politician will cooperate in attending the summons.

"Andi Arief, we believe that the person concerned as a good citizen will cooperate in attending," he said.

The KPK emphasized that Andi Arief's summons was not a hoax like the accusations made on social media. "So it's true that there was a call from the KPK," said Ali.

As previously reported, Andi Arief accused the Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, of misrepresenting his summons as a witness in the alleged bribery case that ensnared Abdul Gafur Mas'ud. The Democrat Party politician also admitted that he did not receive a summons from the anti-corruption commission.

"Was I summoned today for the case of the North Panajam Regent's Gratification? First, where is my summons," Andi said as quoted from his Twitter account @Andiarief__ on Monday, March 28.

In addition, he admitted that he was surprised why he was suddenly linked to the bribery case. Andi then questioned what the purpose of the summons was.

In fact, the Democrat Party politician actually summoned Ali Fikri back to the DPP of the Democratic Party officially.

"The KPK spokesman said the wrong thing or deliberately treated me like this? I will call the official KPK spokesman to the DPP," he said.

It didn't stop there, Andi also demanded an apology from Ali Fikri for spreading hoaxes and being unprofessional to his detriment.

Then, still quoted from his Twitter, Andi admitted that he had reported to members of Commission III of the DPR RI from the Democratic Party Faction.

He asked his colleague who is a legislator to summon Ali Fikri as Acting Spokesman for the KPK to explain the motive for the announcement, which Andi considered, as untrue news or hoaxes.

"I have reported members of Commission 3 of the Democratic Party of Representatives to summon the spokesman for the KPK and what is the motive for announcing false news indiscriminately," he said.

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

Meanwhile, as a suspect for giving bribes, the KPK has named a private party named Achmad Zudi. These six people have been 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.