Riau Governor Cadre Becomes Suspect, PKB Hasn't Discussed Legal Aid

Deputy Chairperson of PKB Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - The National Awakening Party (PKB) has not yet decided on the provision of legal assistance for the Governor of Riau, Abdul Wahid after being officially named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Deputy Chairperson of PKB Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal said that his party's internal party had not discussed this because the KPK had just announced Abdul Wahid as one of the suspects previously caught in the Hand Catch Operation (OTT) in Riau Province.

"Yes, we haven't talked about it yet, yes, later. We haven't seen what it looks like because we also have to ask for directions first. I will also discuss the leaders of the deputy chairmen, we will discuss what the steps are taken. Because we just heard that it was released from the KPK," said Cucun at the Paleman Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 5.

Including sanctions against Abdul Wahid, Cucun said it had not been discussed. According to him, this matter must be discussed further by the PKB DPP.

"We haven't talked about it yet, that's why we ignored the effort. We haven't talked about the matter. Legal aid must also be discussed at a meeting at the DPP," he said.

It is known that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officially announced three suspects after holding a hand arrest operation (OTT) in Riau Province on Monday, November 3. One of them is Riau Governor Abdul Wahid who was also caught in a series of activities.

"After finding sufficient evidence, the KPK named three people as suspects," said KPK Deputy Chair Johanis Tanak at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, November 5.

Apart from Abdul Wahid, the anti-corruption commission also appointed M. Arief Setiawan as Head of the Riau Province Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, Settlement and Land Areas (PUPR PKPP) and Dani M. Nursalam as an expert for the Governor of Riau as a suspect.

Johanis said the three suspects would be detained until November 23 at different detention centers. In detail, Abdul Wahid is being held at the ACLC building detention center of the KPK.

Meanwhile, Arief and Dani were detained at the KPK's Red and White building detention center. "The three suspects were detained for the first 20 days," he said.

The three of them were called Johanis as suspects in extortion cases within the Riau Provincial Government. This case began when there was an additional 2025 budget allocated to the UPT Jalan and Jembatan Region I-VI PUPR PKPP Office, which was originally Rp71.6 billion to Rp177.4 billion.

It is suspected that there was a 2.5 percent ability to provide fees which were then discussed at a cafe in the Pekanbaru City area, Riau. The discussion was held between Ferry Yunanda as Secretary of the PKPP PUPR Service along with six UPTs.

Then Ferry conveyed the results of the meeting to M. Arief as Head of the Riau PUPR Service and representative Abdul Wahid. However, Arief actually asked for 5 percent or Rp. 7 billion.

As a result of their actions, the suspects were suspected of violating the provisions in Article 12e and/or Article 12f and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code