In Front Of The Judge, Regent Budhi Sarwono Claims Never Received Fees From Contractors

The trial of the alleged corruption case of the Banjarnegara Inactive Regent, Budhi Sarwono, at the Semarang Corruption Court, Tuesday. (ANTARA/ ICSenjaya)

SEMARANG - Banjarnegara Regent Budhi Sarwono admits that he has never received any "fees" from contractors implementing various infrastructure projects in the district.

This was conveyed by Budhi when being questioned as a defendant in a trial on alleged corruption with the defendant Banjarnegara Inactive Regent Budhi Sarwono at the Corruption Court in Semarang, Central Java, Tuesday, May 10.

"Never received money from contractors through Kedi Afandi," said Budhi in the trial chaired by Chief Justice Rochmad, reported by Antara.

During the trial, Budhi admitted that he had twice met with members of the construction service provider association after being sworn in in 2017.

According to him, during the meeting there was a proposal to increase the self-estimated price (HPS) for goods/services for a job in Banjarnegara by 20 percent. However, he continued, the proposal was never realized.

Budhi was also asked about his position in four construction service companies owned by his family.

In addition to serving as a director at PT Bumi Rejo, Budhi claimed to have shares in PT Spirit Muda, PT Sutikno Tirta Kencana and PT Buton Tirto Baskoro.

In this alleged corruption case, Budhi was tried with his close friend Kedi Afandi.

In his statement, Kedi confirmed that the promise to increase HPS by 20 percent was not realized.

In addition, Kedi also acknowledged that he was responsible for managing a number of projects in Banjarnegara when Budhi Sarwono was regent.

"This is a personal initiative because of the responsibility I have to do," he said.

Previously, Budhi Sarwono was charged with accepting bribes of Rp. 18.7 billion and gratification of Rp. 7.5 billion from various projects that allegedly involved his three companies.

Budhi was charged with Article 12 letters i and 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 which was amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.

The trial, led by Chief Justice Rochmad, was held in a hybrid manner in which the two defendants underwent trial from the KPK detention room in Jakarta.