KPK Prevents Regent Ricky Ham From Leaving The Country, Even Though He Has Fled To Papua New Guinea

Central Mamberamo Regent Ricky Ham Pagawak. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The KPK has prevented four people from traveling abroad related to cases of alleged bribery and gratification of the implementation of various projects in the Central Mamberamo Regency Government, Papua, one of which is Central Mamberamo Regent Ricky Ham Pagawak.

"For the purposes of the investigation process, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has previously submitted an action to prevent traveling abroad to the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights against four parties suspected of being related to this case, including the Regent of Central Mamberamo," said Acting (Plt) KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri in Jakarta, Monday, July 18, quoted from Antara.

The KPK did not specify who the other three parties were who were prevented from going abroad.

"This preventive measure is effective from June 2022 until the next 6 months and if needed, the KPK will again extend it according to the needs of the investigation," said Ali.

He emphasized that the precautionary measure was one of the efforts so that the parties involved in the case in Central Mamberamo could cooperate in attending to the summons of the investigation team.

Previously, the KPK Investigative Team scheduled a second summons to the Regent of Central Mamberamo to be questioned as a suspect at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Thursday (14/7).

"However, the person concerned was not present to fulfill the summons without a valid legal argumentation basis and the investigation team considered this a form of uncooperative action," said Ali.

The KPK then attempted to forcefully pick up the suspect in the Papua region, but did not find the whereabouts of the suspect. It is suspected that the suspect has fled to Papua New Guinea.

To reveal the whereabouts of the suspect, the investigation team has summoned and examined various parties, including those closest to the suspect who are suspected of having helped in the escape process.

The KPK also asked the parties not to help suspects hide or evade the law enforcement process on purpose because they could be subject to criminal penalties for obstructing the case investigation process as stipulated in Article 21 of the Corruption Crime Act (Tipikor).

The article stipulates that people who intentionally prevent, hinder or thwart directly or indirectly the investigation, prosecution, and examination at the trial of a defendant in a corruption case may be sentenced to a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 12 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 600 million.

For information, the KPK is currently investigating allegations of bribery and project gratification in the Central Mamberamo District Government. The investigative team scheduled a second summons for Ricky, who has now been named a suspect, to appear at the KPK's Red and White building in Jakarta on Thursday, July 14.

"However, the person concerned did not attend to fulfill the summons without a valid legal argumentation basis and the investigative team considered this a form of uncooperative action," said Ali.

Then, the KPK made an effort to force Ricky to go to Papua. However, there Ricky was not found. Ricky allegedly fled before the KPK found him.

Therefore, Ali appealed to the party in question to be cooperative by fulfilling the summons of the investigation team. If Ricky does not turn himself in, the KPK threatens to publish a wanted list.

"For suspects who are not cooperative, the KPK can make arrests and gradually issue DPOs," said Ali.

Meanwhile, the Papuan Regional Police also confirmed that Ricky fled on Thursday, July 14 through Skouw, Jayapura City and crossed a path and entered Wutung, Papua New Guinea.

From the reports received, Ricky was seen at the RI-Papua New Guinea border carrying two backpacks. "It is not yet known what the contents of the backpack were," said Director General of the Papua Police, Kombes Faizal Rahmadani, in Jayapura.