Chronology Of South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah OTT To Become A Corruption Suspect

Governor of South Sulawesi Nurdin Abdullah (Pemprov Sulsel)

JAKARTA - The Governor of South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Nurdin Abdullah has been named a corruption suspect related to project gratuities. Nurdin now has to stay in detention.

"There is a suspicion of receiving a certain amount of money by the state administrators given by AS to NA (Nurdin Abdullah) through ER as a representative and at the same time a confidant of NA," said the Chairman of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri at a press conference on Sunday, February 28 in the early morning.

Firli explained the chronology of KPK's OTT (catch-hand operation). Initially at 20:24 Western Indonesia Time, Friday, February 26, AS and IF headed to a restaurant in Makassar.

At the location, there is already ER waiting. IF drove ER's car while AS and ER together in a car belonging to AS headed to Hasanuddin Makassar Street.

During the trip, AS submitted proposals related to several infrastructure work projects in Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi for Fiscal Year 2021 to ER.

Then at around 21.00 Western Indonesia Time, Friday, February 26, IF moved the suitcase containing money from AS car to the trunk of ER's car on Hasanuddin Street.

Furthermore, said Firli, at around 23.00 Central Indonesia Time, AS was secured while on the way to Bulukumba. Meanwhile, at around 00.00 Central Indonesia Time, ER and money in a suitcase of around IDR 2 billion were also secured at his official residence.

"At around 02.00 Central Indonesia Time, NA was also secured at the official residence of the Governor of South Sulawesi," said Firli.

This case stems from AS suspect, the Director of PT. Agung Perdana Bulukumba, who received several infrastructure work projects in South Sulawesi for the 2021 fiscal year. AS himself has long known NA well.

Since February 2021, there has been active communication between AS and ER as a representative and at the same time as NA confidants to ensure that AS gets back the project he wants in 2021.

"In some of these communications, it is suspected that there was a fee bargaining for the determination of each of the project values that AS would later work on," said Firli.

Around the beginning of February 2021, said Firli, NA met with ER and also AS who had secured the Bira tourism work project, Bulukumba. Then, NA conveyed to ER that the continuation of the Bira tourism project would be carried out again by AS.

"NA gave approval and ordered ER to immediately speed up the preparation of DED (Detail Engineering Design) documents which will be auctioned off in the 2022 FY Local Government Budget," he explained.

Meanwhile, at the end of February 2021, said Firli, ER, who met with NA, said that the project fee carried out by AS in Bulukumba had been given to another party. At that time, NA said the important thing was that AS could still assist NA activities.

"AS then on February 26, 2021, is suspected of handing over around IDR 2 billion to NA through ER," he said.

In addition, said Firli, NA was also suspected of receiving money from other contractors, namely that at the end of 2020, NA received IDR 200 million. Then, in mid-February 2021, NA through SB received IDR 1 billion. In early February 2021, NA through SB received IDR 2.2 billion.

Projects Ever Worked By AS

AS previously worked on several other projects in South Sulawesi, including the road improvement of the Palampang-Munte-Bontolempangan section in Sinjai/Bulukumba Regency (DAK Assignment) in 2019 with a value of IDR 28.9 billion.

Then, the construction of the Palampang-Munte-Bontolempangan (DAK) FY 2020 road with a value of IDR 15.7 billion. Then, the Palampang-Munte-Bontolempangan 11 package (Provincial Government Budget) road construction with a value of IDR 19 billion.

Furthermore, the construction of roads, education, and road lighting for the Bira Tourism Area (South Sulawesi Province Financial Assistance to Bulukumba Regency in 2020) with a project value of IDR 20.8 billion.

Rehabilitation of Parkiran 1 Road and Construction of Parkiran 2 Road for Bira Tourism Area (2020 South Sulawesi Provincial Financial Assistance to Bulukumba Regency in 2020) with a project value of IDR 7.1 billion.

The suspects Nurdin Abdullah and ER are suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 and Article 12B of Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, AS suspect is suspected of violating Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

Firli explained, the detention of the suspects was currently under detention for the first 20 days from 27 February to 18 March.

"NA was detained at the KPK branch detention center, Pomdam Jaya Guntur branch. ER was detained at the KPK branch detention center at Kvling C1. AS was detained at the KPK branch detention center at the Merah Putih Building," said Firli.