30 Witnesses Examined By KPK Regarding Grant Funds In East Java, 6 Of Them Legislators

KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardika/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the bribery transaction of grant funds in East Java (East Java). There are 30 witnesses who have been examined in this case.

"The witnesses who were summoned were investigated related to the process of managing grant funds for community groups to the hands of community groups, as well as being investigated regarding the provision and acceptance of bribes related to the management of the grant funds," said KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardika to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, July 18.

Tessa has not detailed the identities of the 30 witnesses. However, of these six are legislators.

"The examination of all witnesses was carried out in the city of Surabaya, the witnesses who were present, consisting of four members of the East Java Provincial DPRD, two members of the Regency DPRD, and the rest are private parties," he said.

In this case, the KPK will actually examine four other people. However, they did not attend on the grounds that they were worshiping or being sick.

"Two people are still not back from Hajj activities, and two others are sick," said Tessa.

Previously reported, the KPK named 21 suspects in this case. Four people are bribe recipients and 17 others are givers.

The KPK is still reluctant to specify their identities. However, the three suspected recipients had the status of state administrators and the remaining were official staff.

Meanwhile, the 15 suspected givers are private parties. The remaining two have status as state administrators.

This case is the development of the alleged bribery that ensnared the former Deputy Chairman of the East Java DPRD, Sahat Tua Simanjuntak. He was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison by the Panel of Judges at the Surabaya Corruption Court, Tuesday, September 29, 2023.

In addition to a 12-year prison sentence, Sahat was also fined Rp1 billion, a subsidiary of 6 months. He was also required to pay compensation of Rp39.5 billion.