Former Mayor Of Bengkulu Becomes Suspect Of Mega Mall Corruption

Former Mayor of Bengkulu for the period 2007 to 2012 Ahmad Kanedi (wearing an oranyye vest) after being named a suspect by the Bengkulu Prosecutor's Office Investigation Team, Thursday (22/5/2025). ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu High Prosecutor's Special Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) Investigative Team named the former Bengkulu Mayor for the period 2007 to 2012 as well as former member of the Ahmad Kanedi Regional Representative Council as a suspect in the corruption case of Mega Mall and PTM Bengkulu.

"I was accompanied by Pak Asintel and Aspidsus Bengkulu Attorney General's Office to convey the progress of the investigation regarding the alleged corruption crime on land belonging to the Bengkulu City Government which on top of it has the right to land Mega Mall and PTM. The investigative team has named a suspect against the former Mayor of Bengkulu for the period 2007 to 2012," said Bengkulu Attorney General's Assistant for the Attorney General's Office Andri Kurniawan as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 22.

After being named a suspect, Ahmad Kanedi will be detained at the Bengkulu Detention Center for the next 20 days from May 22 to June 10, 2025.

"We have just named one suspect, his role as Mayor of Bengkulu together with other parties and will be investigated during the investigation process so that a criminal act of corruption occurs," he said.

Meanwhile, the state financial losses in the case are currently still being calculated by the audit team.

Ahmad Kanedi was charged with Articles 2 and 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law.

Previously, the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office confiscated two buildings and land, namely Mega Mall and Bengkulu Traditional Market (PTM) Bengkulu City with a total area of 15,662 square meters related to the alleged corruption case.

The confiscation or sealing was carried out under the strict supervision of a number of fully uniformed TNI officers.

"We, from the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office, have confiscated Mega Mall and PTM," said Assistant for Special Crimes (Aspidsus) of the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office, Suwarno.

Assistant to the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office, Andri Kurniawan, explained that the confiscation did not stop activities and was carried out properly and did not interfere with operations in the two locations.

"Activities are still running properly and we hope that in the future there will be more crowds," he said.

The Head of Investigation at the Bengkulu Attorney General's Office, Danang Prasetyo, said that technically the two buildings were confiscated and their status is currently in the investigators.

"For future steps, the rights of traders (at Mega Mall and PTM Bengkulu) are not disturbed, so don't think after being confiscated you can't trade. Stay (activities) normal as usual, later we will take the next steps," he said.