Bengkulu Governor Arrested By KPK, Golkar Obeys Legal Process

Golkar Deputy Adies Kadir

JAKARTA - Golkar Party Deputy Chairman Adies Kadir said his party was obedient to the applicable law. He reminded banyan cadres who stumbled on legal cases to follow the ongoing legal process.

This was conveyed by Adies in response to the arrest of Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with cases of extortion and gratification.

"Yes, Golkar is a law-abiding party. So of course the Golkar Party appeals to follow the ongoing legal process," said Adies, Monday, November 25.

Adies also responded to Rohidin's arrest before the voting day for the 2024 Pilkada. It is known that Rohidin is an incumbent candidate for the Bengkulu gubernatorial election.

"Those are the regulations that have been made by the KPU, so we just follow the rules. We obey the principles, obey the rules, obey the law, we follow all regulations," said Adies.

The KPK revealed the chronology of the Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah's hand arrest operation (OTT) related to cases of extortion and gratification within the Bengkulu Provincial Government.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, the KPK received information about the alleged receipt of a sum of money to be given to Rohidin. As a follow-up to the public's report, the KPK moved to Bengkulu to carry out OTT.

On Saturday, November 23, the KPK secured 8 people, namely Rohidin, and several Bengkulu Provincial Government officials, namely the Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Service, the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service, and the Head of the Education and Culture Office.

Then, the Head of the Government and Welfare Bureau, the Regional Secretary, the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR), and the Adc Governor of Bengkulu at Fatmawati Bengkulu Airport. In addition, the KPK team also secured money and goods in a number of places.

"The total amount of money secured in this arrest activity is a total of around 7 billion rupiah in Rupiah, USD, and Singapore Dollar (SGD) currency," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata at the KPK's Red and White Building, Sunday, November 24.

Now, the KPK has named Rohidin as a suspect along with two other people, namely the Regional Secretary of Bengkulu Province Isnan Fajri and Evriansyah alias Anca as the Adc Governor of Bengkulu.

From the results of the initial examination, it was known that Rohidin conveyed to Isnan Fajri in July 2024 that he needed support in the form of funds and person in charge of the region in the context of selecting the Bengkulu Governor in the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada.

In around September-October, Isnan gathered all OPD heads and Bureau Heads within the Bengkulu Provincial Government with directions to support the Rohidin program that is running again as Bengkulu Governor.

Since then, a number of Bengkulu Provincial Government officials have started depositing money from various sources, ranging from the personal pockets of one of the officials, ATK budget cuts, SPPD deductions, and employee allowances, disbursement of honorariums for employees and honorary teachers, to donations from each work unit in the Bengkulu City winning team.

"Based on the facts of this incident, the KPK has found sufficient preliminary evidence to raise this case to the investigation stage," said Alex.

For his actions, Rohidin and two other suspects are suspected of violating the provisions in Article 12 letter e and Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended in Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.