KPK Opens The Forced Pick-up Option For Uncle Birin If Mangkir Again Today

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

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the option of forced pick-up of former South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin was open after he did not appear at the KPK's Red and White building today.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika when asked about Uncle Birin's absence from fulfilling the investigator's summons as a witness for the second time. He said that the forced pick-up would certainly depend on the investigator's readiness.

"So for SN's witness, to this day or when this question was asked, it was not indicated that he was present or conveyed the reason for his absence," said Tessa to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, November 22.

"If the next question is whether the person concerned will be forcibly picked up, then of course we will leave this entirely to the investigator for any things or any action that can be taken in this regard," he continued.

Tessa said forced pick-up could be done if Uncle Birin as a witness did not confirm his presence. He said this effort was in the laws and regulations.

"Witnesses who do not provide information or reasons for their absence that cannot be accounted for can be picked up," said the spokesman with the investigator's background.

The spirit of Uncle Birin's absence has been conveyed by his attorney, Aribowo Soesilo. He could not confirm his client's presence when confirmed.

"I don't know yet, but Mr. SN doesn't seem to even know there was a call because I haven't been able to contact him since after the pretrial decision," Soesilo told reporters.

Even so, Soesilo said the summons as a witness had reached Uncle Birin's address. "But, he doesn't exist," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK named former South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin as suspects for receiving bribes along with four other people.

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 which began with a hand arrest operation (OTT) on Sunday, October 6.

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.

However, Uncle Birin's suspect status was later dropped by the South Jakarta District Court (PN). He won a pretrial lawsuit against the KPK because he did not accept being entangled in this case.

Even so, the KPK ensured that the investigation into the receipts made against Uncle Birin would still be carried out. This is because the lawsuit that was won only tested formal, not material cases.