KPK Investigates Pati Regent Sudewo's Extortion Through the Examination of 7 Village Heads   

ILLUSTRATION BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating allegations of extortion for filling the village apparatus of Pati Regency, Central Java, which ensnared Pati Mayor Sudewa alias Sudewo.

Seven witnesses from the village head element were questioned on Thursday, January 29.

"And this week has also begun to examine a number of parties, including village heads, prospective village cadres, and other parties whose statements are indeed needed to be able to explain related to practices or procedures in the process of filling village cadres," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters. through his written statement, Friday, January 30.

The seven village heads are the Head of Sidomukti Village, Jaken District, Yusuf Efendi; Head of Sriwedari Village, Jaken District, Harto; Head of Sumberrejo Village, Jaken District, Susanto; Head of Tamansari Village, Jaken District, Gus Amin.

Then the Head of Trikoyo Village, Jaken District, Dasar Wibowo; Head of Sidoluhur Village, Jaken District, Sudar; and Head of Ronggo Village, Jaken District, Sutrisno.

In addition, other witnesses were also summoned, namely the Secretary of Sukorukun Village, Jaken District, Listyaningsih; acting secretary of the village or head of the Duni Village, Arumanis Village, Jaken District, Pandelan; Sumarni and Intan (Entrepreneurs); Village Apparatus Arumanis, Supriyanto; and Ria Erlita Sari and Nur Utami as Residents of Sidoluhur Village, Jaken District.

"Including also the investigators are investigating the collection of a number of money collected by the candidates for village cadres which is collected by certain parties to later be given to the suspect, brother SDW as the Regent of Pati," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK named Sudewo as the Regent of Pati as a suspect in alleged extortion of filling village apparatus positions with Abdul Suyono (YON) as the Karangrowo Kades, Jakenan District; Sumarjiono (JION) as the Arumanis Kades, Jakenan District; and Karjan (JAN) as the Sukorukun Kades, Jakenan District.

Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, said that the tariff of Rp. 165-225 million must be paid by the prospective village apparatus (caperdes). This figure is said to have been marked up by Abdul Suyono and Sumarjiono from Rp. 125-150 million.

There was also a threat, namely that the village apparatus formation would not be reopened the following year if the caperdes did not want to hand over the money.

During the silent operation, the KPK then secured Rp2.6 billion which had previously been stored in sacks.

As a result of his actions, Sudewo and his colleagues were suspected of violating Article 12 letter e of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 jo Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code.

They were also detained for the first 20 days at the KPK Detention Center. This detention will be extended as needed by investigators.