Rohidin Mersyah Allegedly Asked Officials To Become A Winning Team To Collect Money For The Bengkulu Gubernatorial Election

KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that the inactive Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah held a meeting with the Bengkulu Provincial Government (Pemprov) officials regarding his candidacy. This allegation was investigated from eight witnesses who were questioned on Monday, December 2.

"The witness was all present and investigated regarding the meeting regarding the request from the Governor of RM to become a winning team for himself and deepening the request for a fundraising for the winner of the Governor of RM," said KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika to reporters in a written statement, Tuesday, December 3.

The eight witnesses who were worked on by investigators were the Head of the General Bureau of the Bengkulu Provincial Government (Pemprov) Alfian Marteddy; Civil Servant/Plt. Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Bapenda Yudi Karsa; Bengkulu Province ESDM Civil Servant/Head Doni Swabuana; and Bengkulu Province Civil Servant/Head of TPHP M. Rizon.

Then also examined by civil servants/Head of BPKAD Bengkulu Province Haryadi; Bengkulu Provincial Civil Servant/Kadis Kelautan and Fisheries Office Syafriandi; Civil Servant/Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Government Bureau Ferry Ernez Parera; and Bengkulu Provincial Government Head/Head of Education Office Saidirman. They were worked on at the Bengkulu Police.

Previously reported, the KPK held a hand arrest operation (OTT) in Bengkulu Province on Saturday, November 23 and brought eight people for questioning. Three people were later named as suspects, namely Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, Bengkulu Provincial Secretary (Sekda) Isnan Fajri and Evrianshah alias Anca who is the Adc Governor of Bengkulu.

When the OTT was carried out, investigators found IDR 7 billion in rupiah currency denominations, US dollars, and Singapore dollars. The extortion and acceptance of gratuities is said to finance Rohidin, who is back running as a candidate for incumbent.

As a result of his actions, these three suspects are suspected of violating Article 12 letter e and Article 12B in Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended in Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.