KPK Summons 8 Witnesses Regarding The Ambon Mayor Bribery Case, From The City Government To The Private

Ambon Mayor Richard Louhenapessy suspects corruption at the KPK / PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The KPK continues to investigate the bribery case that ensnared the Mayor of Ambon, Richard Louhenapessy. This anti-corruption agency has summoned eight witnesses related to the investigation of cases related to licensing the construction of retail branches in 2020 in Ambon City.

The parties who were summoned were not only from the Ambon City Government, but also from the private sector. An examination was also carried out at the Maluku Police Mobile Brigade Headquarters, Saturday, May 14.

"Today, located at the Mako Brimob Office of the Maluku Police, the investigative team scheduled the summoning of witnesses for suspect RL (Richard Louhenapessy/Mayor of Ambon City) and friends," said Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri, as quoted by Antara.

Those summoned included the Head of the Ambon City Government Education Office Fahmi Sallatalohy, the 2018-2021 Head of the Ambon City PUPR Service Enrico Rudolf Matitaputty, Head of Industrial Business, Industry and Trade Office of Ambon City Government Firza Attamimi, member of Pokja III UKPBJ Ambon City 2017-2020 Hendra Victor Pesiwarissa.

Then there is the Chair of the 2017 UKPBJ Working Group II / 2018-2020 UKPBJ Pokja II member Ivonny Alexandra W Latuputty, 2018 UKPBJ Working Group III member / 2020 UKPBJ Working Group member Johanis Bernhard Pattiradjawane, License Manager of PT Midi Utama Indonesia Tbk Ambon branch 2019-present Nandang Wibowo, Director of PT Kristal Kurnia Jaya 2006-present Julian Kurniawan.

Apart from Richard, the KPK has also announced two other suspects, namely administrative staff at the Ambon City Government Andrew Erin Hehanusa (AEH) and Amri (AR) from the private sector/employee Alfamidi (AM) Ambon City on Friday.

In the construction of the case, the KPK explained that within the period of 2020, Richard, who served as Mayor of Ambon City for the 2017-2022 period, had the authority. One of them is related to the approval of the principle permit for the construction of retail branches in Ambon City.

In the process of obtaining the permit, it is suspected that Amri was actively communicating and held a meeting with Richard so that the permit process could be immediately approved and issued.

Following up on Amri's request, Richard then ordered the Head of PUPR Office of the Ambon City Government to immediately process and issue various permit applications including a Business Place Permit (SITU) and a Trading Business Permit (SIUP).

The KPK revealed that for each permit document that was approved and issued, Richard requested that the handover of money with a minimum nominal value of Rp. 25 million use a bank account belonging to Andrew, who is Richard's confidant.

As for the issuance related to the approval in principle for the development of 20 retail outlets, Amri is alleged to have given Richard around Rp500 million in cash which was given in stages through Andrew's bank account.

In addition, Richard is also suspected of receiving a flow of funds from various parties as gratification and this will still be further investigated by the KPK investigators.

For his actions, the suspect Amri as the giver is suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 2001.

Meanwhile, Richard and Andrew as the recipients are suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b or article 11 and article 12 B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st Criminal Code.