Democrat Party Politician Andi Arief Finally Responds To KPK's Call

Andi Arief before being questioned by KPK investigators (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Democratic Party, Andi Arief, has finally complied with the summons of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He was summoned as a witness in the alleged bribery that ensnared the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud and the Balikpapan Democratic Party Branch Leadership Council (DPC) General Treasurer, Nur Afifah Balqis.

"Witness Andi Arief was present today at around 09.15 a.m.," said Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters, Monday, April 11.

Ali has not detailed the summons. Because at this time, Andi is still being investigated by the anti-corruption commission investigators.

"(Andi Arief, ed) is currently still carrying out an examination by the KPK investigators team," he said.

Even so, Ali ensured that Andi's information before investigators was very much needed. Moreover, the anti-corruption commission is currently focusing on investigating who received the bribe money allegedly received by Abdul Gafur.

All pre-existing information, continued Ali, will also be confirmed with Andi. Thus, this alleged bribery case will become clear later.

"We continue to dig up the information and data that we have. No matter how small, we will definitely look into it, we will confirm it with the witnesses we summoned. Including whether it is true that there was a flow of money to another party that was handed over by the suspect AGM. We will continue to explore this further," said Ali.

As previously reported, Andi Arief confirmed that he would attend the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. This confirmation was conveyed after he received a summons that was sent a second time.

"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.

Previously, he was not present at the first summons because he felt that he had not received the letter that had been sent by the KPK.

For information, the KPK appointed Abdul Gafur with the Acting Secretary of the 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.