KPK Chair Opens Opportunity To Snatch PPU Regent Abdul Gafur Using Money Laundering Articles

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri (Photo: Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri said his party had the opportunity to ensnare the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud with the article on money laundering (TPPU).

This possibility is open, said Firli if Abdul, is proven to have hidden and disguised the ownership of assets that came from the bribes he received.

"TPPU is someone who hides, disguises all kinds of transactions and is suspected of being the result of a crime. So if it can be proven, of course we will carry out an investigation at the TPPU," Firli told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, 28 April.

Firli ensured that his institution would develop the corruption cases they were handling, including applying the money laundering article. This aims to add a deterrent effect to the criminals.

Moreover, continued Firli, corruptors are often not deterred if only subject to corporal punishment. Thus, additional penalties through other articles are expected to maximize the deterrent effect.

"The TPPU is indeed the Corruption Eradication Commission cooperates with corruption cases. For what reason, because it feels right now the corruptors will not give up if only corporal punishment does not make people (get, ed) a deterrent effect," he said.

Even so, Firli ensured that the application of the ML article to the perpetrators of corruption certainly could not be arbitrary. Investigation of this allegation can only be carried out if there are main cases that have been investigated first.

"But of course there must be conditions for money laundering offenses," said the former deputy for prosecution of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

"KPK, we, can investigate money laundering offenses after we know there is a main case," added Firli.

One of them uses the name of the General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis, who is also a suspect in the bribery case for the procurement of goods and services and permits. This information was obtained by the KPK when examining two civil servants (PNS) Mohammad Syaiful and the private sector, Ruslan Sangadji.

Previously reported, the KPK named Abdul Gafur as a suspect in receiving bribes related to the procurement of goods and services as well as permits in North Penajam Paser Regency.

Apart from Gafur, the KPK has also appointed 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.

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.