10 Members Of The Muara Enim DPRD Are Also Required To Isolate First When Entering The Palembang Detention Center

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - 10 members of the inactive Muara Enim Regency DPRD are occupying solitary confinement in Class 1A Rutan Pakjo Palembang, South Sumatra, for the next few days.

"In accordance with the protocol for transferring detainees during the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendants will be in solitary confinement for several days," said KPK Public Prosecutor Januar Dwi Nugroho while at the Class 1A Pakjo Prison in Palembang, Tuesday, February 8.

They are all defendants in cases of alleged receipt of gifts or promises related to the procurement of goods and services at the PUPR Service, as well as the ratification of the Muara Enim Regency APBD in the 2019 fiscal year.

They were transferred by the KPK public prosecutor (JPU) from the detention house in Jakarta to the Class 1A Pakjo Palembang Rutan to follow the further trial process related to the case at the Palembang District Court.

The defendants were named Indra Gani, Ishak Joharsah, Ari Yoca Setiadi, Ahmad Reo Kosuma, Marsito, Mardiansah, Muhardi, Fitrianzah, Subahan, and Piardi.

Because they have to undergo the isolation period, said Januar, the defendants will attend a follow-up trial with an interim decision agenda at the Palembang District Court online from the detention center on Wednesday (9/2).

For the next trial, if the judge needs the defendants, his party will coordinate with the detention center to present the defendant in the trial directly, quoted from Antara.

The defendants are currently confirmed to be in good health, then the results of the antigen swab test are negative for COVID-19 and there are no problems, including their transfer files.

Previously, the defendants arrived at the Class 1A Pakjo Palembang Rutan on Tuesday at 15:45 WIB.

They were escorted using two buses from the South Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office in handcuffs and escorted by the KPK Public Prosecutor and the local Attorney General's Office.

The defendants' arrival was greeted by dozens of their families who had been waiting for hours at the detention center.

In fact, one of the defendants, in handcuffs, wearing a KPK prison vest, wearing glasses, and a mask, took the time to hug and kiss his wife and son who were waiting right in front of the prison entrance.

The ten defendants who had to deal with the KPK were the result of the development of a case that had previously ensnared Muara Enim Regency Government officials.

They are the former Muara Enim Regent Ahmad Yani, the former Muara Enim Regent Juarsah, a former official at the Muara Enim PUPR Service, and the former Muara Enim DPRD chairman Aries HB, who is known to have been sentenced by the Palembang District Court judges.

The case was rolling, the KPK prosecutor charged the 10 defendants with participating in receiving fees from the project for the procurement of goods and services at the PUPR Office of Muara Enim Regency in 2019.

There are allegations that they received Rp200 million—Rp400 million out of a total fee of Rp5.6 billion.

The acceptance of the fee is suspected so that there will be no interference from the DPRD on the programs of the Muara Enim Regency Government, particularly related to the procurement of goods and services at the PUPR Service.

For their actions, the defendants were subject to Article 12 letter a or subsidiary Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st KUHP with a maximum imprisonment of 20 years.