KPK Tracks Bribes For Former Head Of East Java Bappeda Through Tulungagung Regent Maryoto Birowo

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the origin of the money given to the Head of East Java Bappeda Budi Setiawan in order to facilitate the allocation of financial assistance.

A number of witnesses were summoned, including the former Deputy Regent who now serves as Tulungagung Regent Maryoto Birowo. Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri said the examination was carried out on Thursday, August 25.

Maryoto, he continued, was a witness along with six other people. They were questioned at the Tulungagung Resort Police Office, East Java.

"The witnesses were present and the investigative team is still continuing to investigate through the knowledge of the witnesses, among others, regarding the alleged source of money given to the suspect BS et al," said Ali to reporters, Friday, August 26.

Apart from Maryoto, the other witnesses examined were the former Head of the Budget Division of BPKAD Tulungagung Sri Pamuni; and Tulungagung Regency DPRD Set Expenditure Treasurer Made Prasetyo.

Furthermore, the former member of the Tulungagung DPRD, Ponidi, was also examined; private sector from CV Marga Jaya, Panti Anjarwati; The Head of the Regional Secretariat Development Administration as well as the Head of the District Government Procurement Service Unit. Tulungagung Samrotul Fuad; and Head of the Department of Industry, Trade and Markets of Tulungagung Regency, Tri Hariadi.

Previously, the KPK named the former Head of the East Java Bappeda for the 2017-2018 period, Budi Setiawan, as a suspect in the alleged bribery of the East Java Provincial Government's financial aid allocation. This determination is a development of the case that ensnared the former Tulungagung Regent Syahri Mulyo.

In this case, there was an agreement on the provision of fees ranging from 7-8 percent of the total budget for financial assistance provided.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the money that Budi received reached Rp. 3.5 billion and was handed over to the Head of the Tulungagung Regency PUPR Office, Sutrisno, in the office of the Head of the East Java Province BPKAD.

The fee is from entrepreneurs in Tulungagung Regency whose funding is using the East Java Province Financial Aid.

Not until there, Budi in 2017-2018 again received a fee of Rp6.75 billion. This provision was made after Budi again allocated financial assistance of IDR 30.4 billion in 2017 and IDR 29.2 billion in 2018.