The Governor Of Bengkulu And The Regent Of Kaur Are Being Questioned By The KPK About The Lobster Business Recommendation

KPK Red and White House (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah and Regent Kaur Gusril Paisi have conducted investigations as witnesses after being summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Monday, January 18.

The two were investigated in connection with the alleged bribery for the export license for lobster or fries that ensnared former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo.

Acting KPK spokesperson for prosecution Ali Fikri said that during the investigation, Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah was questioned by a team of investigators regarding the lobster business recommendation he had given to Suharjito, President Director of PT Dua Putra Perkasa.

"Rohidin Mersyah (Bengkulu Governor) was confirmed regarding the lobster business recommendation in Bengkulu Province for PT DPP which was submitted by the SJT suspect (Suharjito)," Ali said in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, January 19.

The Corruption Eradication Commission also studied the same thing with regent Kaur Gusril Paisi. During the investigation, the investigators were looking for recommendations given by Gusril to the bribery company of Edhy Prabowo.

"Gusril Pausi (Regent of Kaur Bengkulu), confirmed the lobster business recommendation and certificate of origin of lobster fry in Kaur Regency, Bengkulu which was intended for PT DPP submitted by the SJT suspect," said Ali.

In addition, on the same day, the KPK also conducted an examination of the Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Finari Manan.

Ali said that Finari was asked for information regarding investigations conducted by his subordinates against dozens of companies suspected of smuggling seeds.

"Finari Manan (Head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office) in his knowledge related to the investigation activities by the Soetta Customs Investigation Team for 14 companies suspected of being involved in the smuggling of lobster fry on September 15, 2020," he explained.

Finally, the KPK also explores the management of salmon imports carried out by PT Dua Putra Perkasa (DPP) by conducting an examination of Yunus, who is a private employee.

As previously reported, in the case of the export bribery of lobster fry or lobster seeds, Edhy Prabowo was named a suspect in receiving bribes along with five other people, namely: Stafsus Minister of KKP Safri (SAF) and Andreau Pribadi Misanta (APM); Management of PT Aero Citra Kargo (PT ACK) Siswadi (SWD); The staff of the wife of the Minister of KKP, Ainul Faqih, and Amiril Mukminin (AM).

Meanwhile, the giver of the bribe was the Director of PT Dua Putra Perkasa Pratama (PT DPPP) Suharjito (SJT).

Edhy was named a suspect because he was suspected of accepting bribes from companies that had been issued a lobster seed export license using a forwarder company and were kept in one account up to Rp9.8 billion.

The money that goes to the account of PT ACK, which is currently the sole cargo service provider for the export of lobster seeds, is then withdrawn to the accounts of PT ACK holders, namely Ahmad Bahtiar and Amri, for a total of Rp9.8 billion.

Furthermore, on November 5, 2020, Ahmad Bahtiar transferred Rp3.4 billion to the staff account of Edhy's wife, Ainul, which was earmarked for the needs of Edhy, his wife Iis Rosyati Dewi, Safri, and Andreau.

This money is used for shopping for luxury goods by Edhy and his wife in Honolulu, USA from November 21 to 23, 2020, amounting to around IDR 750 million, including Rolex watches, Tumi and LV bags, road bikes, and Old Navy clothes.

In addition, around May 2020, Edhy was also suspected of receiving 100 thousand US dollars from Suharjito through Safri and Amiril.