PALEMBANG - Former Governor of South Sumatra Alex Noerdin was questioned by investigators from the High Prosecutor's Office for 12 hours related to the investigation into the alleged corruption case in the construction of the Cinde Market in Palembang City.
After the inspection which was completed on Monday night at 22.30 WIB, Alex Noerdin said that the Cinde Market construction had gone through an in-depth study before the demolition was carried out.
The Cinde Market was demolished because it was already in poor condition, namely slum and dirty. Likewise, the quality of the building that has experienced many cracks and has the potential to collapse if there is an earthquake.
"At that time we were about to hold a big event in the form of the SEA Games, so we proposed the Cinde Market to be built and developed in coordination with various parties, from ministries to special teams as many as 30 people from the provincial government and 41 people from the city government at that time," said Alex as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 22.
Alex Noerdin continued from the results of the study, it was found that Cinde Market is a cultural heritage building and in a decree by the Palembang City Government.
However, for feasibility, it is considered uninhabitable, considering that the building is cracked and fragile so that it can be developed and built as long as it does not damage the shape of the front building.
"This has gone through a study and has matured, through the Palembang BOT, it will have a new market that is neat, clean and habitable without destroying the cultural heritage that has existed for a long time," said Alex.
On that occasion, Alex Noerdin also said that there were so many developments during his tenure, ranging from road facilities, sports arenas, LRT, toll roads, bridges to malls that made South Sumatra residents proud.
"The rapid development is carried out, if you rely on the APBD, where does the money come from, that's why we invite investors. We make national to international class events so that we can achieve the progress of South Sumatra which we hope for together. This is a matter of pride, nothing like this yet," said Alex.
Meanwhile, for the stalled Cinde Market project, Alex said it was not his capacity to answer.
"Wow, if that's the case, I'm not competent to answer," he said as he passed by in a green paint car bearing the prosecutor's car to return to the Pakjo Detention Center to serve the rest of his criminal period.
For the subject matter of the case, it is known that Alex Noerdin was given around 30 questions by investigators.
Apart from Alex Noerdin, there were also Edi Hermanto, also convicts of corruption cases of grant funds and the Sriwijaya Mosque, who served as Chair of the Committee for the 2014 20115 South Sumatra Provincial Government Cooperation Partnership Agency and as well as DW as PT BS Project Manager in 2018.
"We will examine the three with 30 questions related to the Cinde Market project. This examination is to complete the evidence and refer to or will reduce the determination of the suspect," said Head of the South Sumatra Attorney General's Office, Vani Eka Yulia Sari, on the sidelines of the investigation.
The case of alleged corruption at Cinde Market has been rolling since 2023 and will only be resumed in 2025.
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Several witnesses have been questioned, including former Palembang Mayor Harnojoyo, former Head of South Sumatra Perkim Basyaruddin, and former Head of Palembang City BPN who currently serves as Muara Enim Regent Edison.
Apart from witnesses, investigators from the South Sumatra Prosecutor's Office have also conducted searches and confiscations of evidence, starting from searches at the Perkim Office, city government offices, South Sumatra Provincial Government, Bapenda, BPKAD to the Archives Building and the contractor office.
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