COVID-19 Social Assistance Case In West Bandung, The Corruption Eradication Commission Searches 5 Locations Including The Regent Aa Umbara's House

Dpr Ri Building (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted searches in five locations to investigate alleged corruption in the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance in West Bandung Regency.

The search on Wednesday, April 7, targeted the family home of West Bandung Regent Aa Umbara Sutisna who was a suspect along with his son, Andri Wibawa.

"The KPK investigation team has conducted searches in five different locations located in Lembang area, West Bandung regency, which is the residence of parties who have family ties with the suspect AUS (Aa Umbara Sutisna) and allegedly know the series of actions of the suspects in this case", said The Spokesman for Enforcement Ali Fikri, Thursday, April 8.

From the search, The KPK found evidence in the form of documents allegedly related to the procurement of COVID-19 social assistance.

"Furthermore, this evidence will be validated and analyzed to be immediately submitted foreclosure in order to become evidence in the case investigation file", he said.

Previously reported, the KPK appointed West Bandung Regent Aa Umbara Sutisna as a suspect. He was named as a suspect in the alleged corruption of the procurement of emergency response goods for the COVID-19 disaster at the Social Service of West Bandung Regency.

In this case, Aa Umbara is alleged to have received a sum of IDR 1 billion. While M Totoh Gunawan allegedly received a profit of around IDR 2 billion and Andri Wibawa received a profit of around IDR 2.7 billion.

"After conducting the investigation process and finding sufficient preliminary evidence, the KPK raised the status of this case to the investigation stage in March 2021 by establishing a suspect AUS (Aa Umbara Sutisna), Regent of West Bandung", said Vice Chairman of KPK Alexander Marwata in a press conference that was aired on KPK RI YouTube channel, Thursday, April 1.

In addition, the KPK also designated Aa Umbara's son Andri Wibawa as a suspect along with the owner of PT Jagat Dirgantara and CV Sentral Sayuran Garden City Lembang, M. Totoh Gunawan.

"In the process of investigating this case, the investigating team has conducted an examination of 30 witnesses consisting of Civil Servants (ASN) in West Bandung Regency and several other private parties", he said.

Furthermore, of the three suspects, only Totoh Gunawan was detained by the KPK. He was detained in Rutan KPK Pomdam Jaya Guntur Branch for the next 20 days from April 1 to April 20. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he must first run self-isolation for 14 days at Rutan KPK Kavling C1 Branch.

While Aa Umbara and his son, Andri have not been taken into custody. For, neither of them was present in the calling made against both on the grounds of illness.

"The investigation team will conduct a scheduling and recall that we will inform further. We remind the suspects to be cooperative in fulfilling the call", he said.