KPK Asked To Complete Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah's Case Starting From OTT

Bengkulu Governor Inactive, Rohidin Mersyah At KPK Building, Jakarta, Sunday 24 November 2024 (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Indonesia Calling (IM) 57+ Institute urges the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to thoroughly investigate allegations of extortion involving the inactive Bengkulu Governor, Rohidin Mersyah. The case, which started with a hand arrest operation (OTT), was asked not to stop just for a temporary stir.

"What needs to be monitored next is so that the KPK is not only OTT, but also follow up until the case is resolved completely and not just confusing in front," said the Chair of the IM57+ Institute, Lakso Anindito, in a written statement, Monday, November 25.

Lakso added that this case should not end like the determination of a suspect against the former Governor of South Kalimantan, Sahbirin Noor or Uncle Birin, which did not lead to further action. "KPK must complete this until the main perpetrator," he said.

The IM57+ Institute assessed that Rohidin's arrest showed that the KPK could still carry out OTT effectively, but this could not be separated from the role and commitment of the KPK leadership. "In terms of capacity, KPK personnel have been trained to carry out various activities in prosecution and prevention," said Lakso.

He also noted that even at the end of leadership, the KPK continued to carry out OTT, which shows the importance of overseeing the commitment of the elected KPK leadership to revive effective innovations.

For information, on Saturday (23/11), the KPK conducted OTT in Bengkulu Province and arrested eight people for questioning. Three of them, namely Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, Bengkulu Province Regional Secretary (Sekda) Isnan Fajri, and Evrianshah alias Anca (Aide-de-Camp Bengkulu Governor), were then named as suspects.

During the OTT, investigators found Rp7 billion in rupiah, US dollars, and Singapore dollars. The extortion and acceptance of gratuities is allegedly related to the financing of the Rohidin campaign to run again as an incumbent candidate.

The three suspects were charged with Article 12 letter e and Article 12B in Law Number 31 of 1999 which was amended in Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.