Uncle Birin's Whereabouts Are Unknown After Becoming A Suspect And Prevented From Going Abroad

South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the whereabouts of the Governor of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin were unknown. He has been wanted since he was announced as a suspect after the arrest operation (OTT) was carried out on Sunday, October 6.

This was revealed when the KPK as the respondent answered the pretrial filed by Uncle Birin at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) today, Tuesday, November 5. This lawsuit is registered with number: 105 / Pid.Pra / 2024 PN JKT. CELL.

"Until now, the respondent is still searching for the whereabouts of the applicant," said KPK Legal Bureau Team Niar Siregar during the trial.

"The Respondent has issued the Order (Sprinkap) 06 and the KPK Leadership Decision Letter regarding the prohibition of traveling abroad but the whereabouts of the applicant are not yet known and are still being searched," he continued.

This reason makes the anti-corruption commission feel there is no need to examine Uncle Birin before determining his legal status. "The determination of the suspect against the applicant is carried out in a absentia," he said.

Even so, Niar said, the determination of the suspect was not carried out without reason. "The Respondent conducted an examination of a number of people whose statements were continuous with evidence obtained by the applicant which further strengthened the involvement and role of the applicant in the alleged corruption crime a quo," he said.

As previously reported, South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin filed a pretrial lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) on October 10. He did not accept being named a suspect in receiving bribes and gratuities related to projects in South Kalimantan Province.

The determination of the suspect began with a hand arrest operation (OTT) held by the KPK on Sunday, October 6. Uncle Birin was appointed along with four other people as recipients.

They are the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Office of the South Kalimantan Provincial Government Ahmad Solhan (SOL), the Head of Cipta Karya as well as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) of the South Kalimantan Provincial Government Yulianti Erlynah (YUL), the Management of the Tahfidz Darussalam House as well as the collector of money or fee Ahmad (AMD) and Plt. Head of the Household Section of the Governor of South Kalimantan Agustya Febry Andrean (FEB).

Meanwhile, as the suspect givers, namely Sugeng Wahyudi (YUD) and Andi Susanto (AND) as private parties. A total of seven suspects were named by the KPK.

This gift was made after Sugeng and Andi got three projects in South Kalimantan. The details:

1. Construction of Football Fields in the Integrated Sports Area of South Kalimantan Province with selected provider PT WKM (Wismani Kharya Mandiri) with a work value of IDR 23 billion;

2. Integrated Samsat Development with selected provider PT HIU (Haryadi Indo Utama) with a work value of IDR 22 billion;

3. Development of Swimming Pools in the Integrated Sports Area of South Kalimantan Province with the selected provider CV BBB (Bunt Banua Bersama) with a work value of IDR 9 billion.

Uncle Birin is currently not detained like other suspects. However, the KPK has asked the Directorate General of Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country for six months.