Mahfud MD's Story, Saber Extortion Gets Extorted By RW

Mahfud MD/Photo: Instagram @mahfudmd

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD at the Declaration of DIY Towards a Regency/City Free from Extortion at the Kepatihan Complex, Yogyakarta City said, Saber Extortion (illegal fees) was subject to extortion.

On that occasion Mahfud MD said that Imam Prasodjo, who served as an advisor to the Saber Pungli Task Force, had actually become a victim of illegal levies (extortion). Mahfud said, Imam when managing the land in his area was asked for some money by the head of the RW.

"Saber Pungli was exploited by the head of the RW, I didn't know he was an advisor to Saber Pungli," said Mahfud MD, Friday, February 24.

Knowing this practice, Mahfud immediately instructed the Secretary of the Saber Pungli Task Force, Inspector General Agung Makbul, to conduct field inspections. From the inspection, Mahfud said, the RW admitted to asking for some money.

Mahfud concluded that the existence of this case is evidence that extortion has grown from the level of state administrators to the level of the RW. Mahfud said, extortion is part of corruption. The government then formed the Saber Extortion Task Force through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 87 of 2016.

"Saber Pungli is not a legal institution to eradicate corruption, but an institution that focuses on cleaning up government institutions from the habit of directly carrying out illegal levies in the bureaucracy," he said.