Pekanbaru Mayor Risnandar Mahiva Extorts Subordinates Using Debt Pay Mode

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

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the Acting Mayor of Pekanbaru, Risnandar Mahiva, had blackmailed his subordinates with the mode of paying their debts to him. Money from civil servants and general treasury goes into his personal pocket.

"It is as if the civil servant or another state administrator or the general treasury has a debt to him," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, December 13.

"Even though it is known that this is not a debt related to budget management in the Pekanbaru City Government in 2024," he continued.

As for this case, Risnandar became a suspect along with two other people. They are Pekanbaru Regional Secretary Indra Pomi Nasution, and Acting Head of General Section of the Pekanbaru Regional Secretariat Novin Karmila.

Tessa also conveyed the results of a search conducted by investigators from December 5-12. He said there were documents to electronic evidence, money worth Rp. 1.5 billion and US$021 up to 60 units of jewelry, shoes, and bags.

This finding was obtained after investigators searched 12 private houses in Pekanbaru, 3 houses in South Jakarta and Depok, as well as six offices within the Pekanbaru City Government. "The search aims to find other evidence that can strengthen the evidence that has been owned by investigators and ensure that there are other corruption crimes committed by the suspects," he said.

"The current investigation is still possible to ask other parties who deserve to be held criminally responsible," continued Tessa.

As previously reported, the KPK held a hand arrest operation (OTT) on Monday, December 2. Eight people were arrested in Pekanbaru, Riau and another in Jakarta.

Of the amount, the anti-corruption commission then appointed the Acting Mayor of Pekanbaru, Risnandar Mahiva, Pekanbaru Regional Secretary Indra Pomi Nasution, and Acting Head of the General Section of the Pekanbaru Regional Secretariat, Novin Karmila. All three are suspected of being involved in the alleged corruption of cutting the money change budget (GU) in the Regional Secretariat (Setda) Section of Pekanbaru since July 2024.

During the silent operation, the KPK secured evidence in the form of money worth Rp. 6.8 billion. All three violated Article 12 f and Article 12 B of the Law (UU) concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption (Tipikor).