Waiting For Andi Arief's Presence At The KPK's Merah Putih Building

Andi Arief/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has again scheduled an examination of the Chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Democratic Party Andi Arief. Regarding this summons, last week, Andi confirmed that he would attend.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said investigators had sent a summons to Andi Arief.

He will be questioned today, Monday, April 11 regarding the alleged bribery case that ensnared the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud and the General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis.

"The KPK investigation team has again summoned Andi Arief to be present as a witness in the case of the suspect AGM and colleagues (The summons, ed) is scheduled for Monday, April 11 at the KPK's Merah Putih Building," Ali said in a written statement to reporters, Tuesday, April 5.

Meanwhile, Andi Arief said he had received a summons as a witness from the KPK. He confirmed that he would be present to provide information on the case that ensnared Abdul Gafur.

"Today I received two summons as witnesses in the PPU Regent's case. I will attend because I obey the law," Andi said as quoted from his Twitter account @Andiarief__ last week.

Andi then asked for an end to the controversy over the summons that was previously busy being discussed. The polemic started because Andi felt that the KPK had conveyed an untrue statement regarding his summons in the alleged bribery case.

He even had time to make a statement that he would summon Ali Fikri as Acting Spokesperson for the KPK to the Democratic DPP Office. Not only that, but he also asked his colleagues in the DPR RI from the Democratic Party Faction to summon Ali Fikri to explain about the summons.

However, recently Andi said that the first letter he sent was not received because of the wrong address. "The issue of the first call was explained by the Postal Express officer, the address was wrong. The second call was also today through the DPP," he said.

So, he asked that the polemic regarding his summons was no longer a discussion. "Polemic letter, finished," he said.

In the alleged bribery that ensnared Abdul Gafur, investigators are indeed investigating the flow of money to various parties. This includes the 5th Regional Deliberation (Musda) of the East Kalimantan Democratic Party where Gafur is running as one of the candidates for chairman of the DPD.

A number of Democrat Party politicians have been investigated. They are the Chairperson of the West Kutai Democratic Party DPC who is also a member of the West Kutai Regency DPRD, Paul Vius; Chairman of the Paser Democratic Party DPC who serves as a member of the Paser Regency DPRD, Abdullah; and Chairman of the DPC Mahakam Hulu Democratic Party, Kelawing Bayau.

Not only that, investigators have examined Deputy II of the DPP Membership and Cadreization Organization Development Agency (BPOKK) Jemmy Setiawan on Wednesday, March 30 yesterday. After being questioned, Jemmy denied that there was a flow of bribes from Abdul Gafur to the 5th Musda event of the Kalimantan Democratic Party.

"Nothing, nothing (flow of bribes from Abdul Gafur to the 5th Musda of the East Kalimantan Democratic Party, ed)," said Jemmy.

"Giving where," he added.

As previously reported, the Corruption Eradication Commission appointed Abdul Gafur with the Plt Secretary of North Penajam Paser Regency, Mulyadi; Head of Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning of North Penajam Paser Regency Edi Hasmoro; Head of the North Penajam Paser District Education, Youth and Sports Office, Jusman; and the General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis as a bribe recipient.

Meanwhile, as a suspect for giving bribes, the KPK has named a private party named Achmad Zudi. These six people have been named as suspects in alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as granting permits in North Penajam Paser Regency.

Their determination was initiated from a hand-catching operation (OTT) which was held on Wednesday, January 12 in two locations, namely Jakarta and North Kalimantan. From the results of the action, the KPK also confiscated IDR 1 billion and IDR 447 million in Balqis's account.