70 People Examined For Extortion Cases Of KPK Detention Center

Illustration of the KPK's Red and White Building in Jakarta. (doc VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said dozens of people had been investigated in cases of illegal levies (extortion) at the Class I Detention Center of the Red and White House Branch. The investigation is confirmed to continue.

"Currently we have conducted an investigation and have examined about 70 people," Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, July 24.

Asep said information from many parties was needed to investigate the alleged extortion. Moreover, this reckless practice dragged many parties and occurred for three years.

"This extortion is carried out by many parties, then this has also been going on for a period of time that we see here there are about three years, yes, 2019, 2020, and 2021," he said.

The KPK ensures that the investigation of illegal levies will continue to be carried out. "Why? Because we want to see comprehensively so it's not only found in Dewas," said Asep.

"The point is that the KPK wants to carry out this clean activity in total, not only unilaterally. This is an opportunity for us for the KPK to eliminate these extortion practices," he continued.

Previously, the KPK Supervisory Board found allegations of illegal levies at the KPK Detention Center. The value is fantastic to reach Rp4 billion and has been carried out since December 2021-March 2022.

This allegation then became the spotlight of the anti-corruption commission. Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, said that prisoners were afraid to reveal that this incident was not new.

"This has happened for a long time but it has only been revealed now, because in the previous examination the previous victims and their families were still closed or did not reveal it," said Ghufron in a written statement, Friday, June 23.

This extortion is allegedly intended so that prisoners in the KPK detention center can get relief such as being allowed to carry communication tools. In fact, this is something that is prohibited in accordance with the laws and regulations.

"It is suspected that his actions were in the form of bribery, gratification, and extortion of KPK detainees to get relief and use of communication tools," said Ghufron.