Still Looking For Evidence, KPK Extends Detention Period Of North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Sector Ali Fikri (Photo: Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has extended the detention period of the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud. He was detained for allegedly accepting bribes related to the procurement of goods and services as well as permits.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said the extension of the detention was carried out to optimize the search for evidence. Thus, the suspicion of giving bribes to Abdul Gafur was proven.

"So that the fulfillment of all the facts of the articles suspected in the case files of the investigation of the suspect AGM et al can be optimally completed, the investigative team has again extended the detention period," Ali said in a written statement, Thursday, April 14.

Apart from Abdul Gafur, another suspect who was also a recipient of a bribe was also detained for an extended period of time. They are the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Penajam Paser Regency, Edi Hasmoro; General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis; Plt Secretary of North Penajam Paser Regency Mulyadi; Head of the North Penajam Paser Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Jusman

Ali said the extension of this detention would be carried out for 30 days from April 15 to May 14. "Detention is based on the determination of the Head of the Corruption Court at the Balikpapan District Court," he said.

After extending the detention, the investigator stepped on the gas and summoned a number of witnesses to be examined. Today, Thursday, April 14, investigators summoned six people as witnesses. Those summoned were civil servants (PNS) named Mohammadu Syaiful; President Director of PT Berkah Sukses Sejati, Kadarullah; Account Director of PT Intertel Media Prima, Meliawati Kartoyo; General Manager of PT Petronisia Benimel, Bermot Silitonga; freelancer PT Mitratel in North Penajam Paser Regency Paradizs Persya Putra; and a private, Ruslan Sangadi.

It is not known what the witnesses will investigate. However, the six people are suspected of knowing about the alleged bribery that ensnared Abdul Gafur.

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.

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 Rp1 billion and Rp447 million in Balqis's account.