Nurdin Abdullah's Expression 'For God's Sake' About Dollars And Rupiahs: This Belongs To The Mosque

Governor of South Sulawesi, Nurdin Abdullah. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The non-active North Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah denied that the money found by the KPK was up to billions of rupiah and in the form of US and Singapore dollar denominations along with the rupiah currency, which he allegedly received related to infrastructure development.

However, this is not the first time he has denied this because previously he had sworn 'by Allah' that he did not know anything about the Rasuah case which brought him to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention center.

After undergoing questioning at the KPK's Red and White House, Nurdin said that the money worth Rp1.4 billion and 10 thousand US dollars, as well as 190 thousand Singapore dollars that the investigators found after searching a number of places in South Sulawesi did not belong to him and had nothing to do with the bribery case that charged him He said it was mosque money.

"The point is the mosque money, the mosque assistance. Let us explain later," Nurdin told reporters, Friday, March 5.

In addition, the PDI-P politician also denied all allegations by the KPK against him. Even so, the former Bantaeng Regent admits that he will still respect the legal process that is currently underway.

"No, no. Nothing's right. Anyway, we'll wait in court. We respect the legal process," he said.

KPK building. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

In this case, KPK investigators have indeed conducted searches in a number of locations such as the South Sulawesi Provincial PUTR Office and Nurdin's private house. This search was carried out on Tuesday, March 2 yesterday and as a result the KPK found evidence in the form of documents suspected of being related to a bribery case and some money.

Subsequently, investigators also carried out searches at the South Sulawesi Provincial Secretary's Office for the Procurement of Goods and Services and at the private house of Agung Sucipto, who was a suspect in giving bribes to Nurdin and his men. From this search, the KPK found evidence in the form of documents.

The evidence found will then be validated and analyzed and then confiscated.

Not the first time dodging

Nurdin's attitude, which denied the finding of billions of rupiah, reminded him how he swore "for the sake of Allah" after being named a suspect on Sunday, February 28 last morning. At that time, apart from swearing he also said he was not involved and did not know that all this time his subordinates had taken their names.

"Edy (Edy Rahmat, Secretary of the PUPR Office of South Sulawesi) carried out the transaction without my knowledge. Absolutely (I, red) do not know. By Allah, for the sake of Allah," he said at that time before getting into the detention car.

It's just that, he sincerely carried out this legal process and had time to apologize to the people of South Sulawesi for this case.

"I sincerely go through the legal process because yesterday did not know anything about us. I apologize," he said.

Nurdin may argue, however, in fact the KPK has named himself a suspect in bribery and gratuities with the Secretary of the PUPR Office of South Sulawesi Province, Edy Rahmat. Meanwhile, as a suspect in giver of bribes, the anti-corruption commission appointed a contractor named Agung Sucipto.

The beginning of the case that ensnared Nurdin Abdullah

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said Nurdin did not directly accept bribes but through his men as intermediaries.

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"There is a suspicion of receiving a certain amount of money by the state administrators given by the US (Agung Sucipto) to NA (Nurdin Abdullah) through ER (Edy Rahmat) as a representative and at the same time NA confidant," said Firli Bahuri in a press conference for determining the suspect, Sunday, February 28 in the morning.

This bribery and gratification began when Agung, who was the Director of PT Agung Perdana Bulukumba, received several infrastructure work projects in South Sulawesi for the 2021 Fiscal Year. As an entrepreneur, Agung has also known Nurdin for a long time.

Furthermore, since February, active communication between Agung and Edy as Nurdin's representatives and confidants has been re-established. In the communication, it was suspected that there was a fee bargaining to determine the value of each project that the contractor would later work on.

Still in the same month, Nurdin and Edy met with Agung, who had received a Bira travel project, Bulukumba. Through the meeting, Nurdin agreed to do the Bira tourism project by Agung and he conveyed this to Edy.

"NA gave approval and ordered ER to immediately speed up the preparation of the DED (Detail Engineering Design) document which will be auctioned off in the 2022 FY APBD," said Firli.

Chairman of the KPK, Firli Bahuri. (Photo: Doc. PR of KPK)

It's just that, at the end of this February, Edy had a chance to meet Nurdin and conveyed that the project that was to be worked on by Agung had already been done by someone else. Hearing this, Nurdin then said that this work could be arranged, as long as Agung paid for the operational activities.

"The US then on February 26, 2021 is suspected of handing over around Rp. 2 billion to NA through ER," explained Firli.

Not only from Agung, the KPK also suspects that Nurdin will receive a fee from other contractors in 2020 with a nominal value of IDR 200 million. Then there was also the receipt of money amounting to Rp. 3.2 billion in early to mid February.

As a contractor, Agung has worked on several projects in South Sulawesi, such as the improvement of the Palampang-Munte-Bontolempangan road 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) Road for 2020 with a value of IDR 15.7 billion. Then, the construction of the 11 packages Palampang-Munte-Bontolempangan Road (Provincial APBD) with a value of Rp. 19 billion.

Furthermore, the construction of roads, pedestrians and street lighting for the Bira Tourism Area (South Sulawesi Provincial Financial Assistance to Bulukumba Regency in 2020) with a project value of Rp. 20.8 billion.

Finally, the rehabilitation of Parkiran 1 Road and Development of Parkiran 2 Road in the Bira Tourism Area (2020 South Sulawesi Provincial Financial Assistance to Bulukumba Regency in 2020 with a project value of IDR7.1 billion.

As for the consequences of his act of giving bribes to Nurdin, Agung 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. Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

As a bribe recipient, Nurdin and his subordinates, Edy, 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 Crime Jo Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code.

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