Examining 5 Witnesses Including The Head Of PUPR Ambon, KPK Wants To Study Richard Louhenapessy's Directions To Condition Auction

Suspect Ambon City Mayor Richard Louhenapessy (center/orange vest) at the KPK Building, Jakarta/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined five witnesses to explore the alleged direction of the alleged Ambon City Mayor Richard Louhenapessy (RL) in conditioning the auction process for several regional work units (SKPD).

The KPK examined the five witnesses for the suspect Richard and his friends at the Mako Brimob Building of the Maluku Police, Saturday, May 14 in an investigation into the alleged bribery case related to the approval of the principle permit for the construction of a retail branch for 2020 in Ambon City, Maluku.

"The witnesses were present and their knowledge was examined, among others, related to the alleged directive from suspect RL to condition the auction process for several SKPD in the Ambon City Government," said Acting KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri in his statement, Antara, Sunday, May 15.

Five witnesses, namely the Head of the 2018-2021 Ambon City PUPR Service Enrico Rudolf Matitaputty, Head of Industrial Business at the Ambon City Government Industry and Trade Office Firza Attamimi, member of Pokja III UKPBJ Ambon City 2017-2020 Hendra Victor Pesiwarissa.

Next, the Chair of the 2017 UKPBJ Pokja II / members of the 2018-2020 UKPBJ Pokja II Ivonny Alexandra W Latuputty and members of the 2018 UKPBJ Pokja III / members of the 2020 UKPBJ Pokja II Johanis Bernhard Pattiradjawane.

In addition, said Ali, the five witnesses confirmed the alleged receipt of gratuities for the suspect Richard from various parties.

Meanwhile, the KPK informed three witnesses who did not fulfill the summons on Saturday (14/5), namely the Head of the Ambon City Government Education Office Fahmi Sallatalohy, the License Manager of PT Midi Utama Indonesia Tbk Ambon Branch 2019-present Nandang Wibowo, and Director of PT Kristal Kurnia Jaya 2006 -now Julian Kurniawan.

"The three of them were not present and the investigation team immediately scheduled the next summons," said Ali.

Apart from Richard, the KPK has named two other suspects, namely the administrative staff at the Ambon City Government Andrew Erin Hehanusa (AEH) and Amri (AR) from the private sector/employee Alfamidi (AM) Ambon City.

In the construction of the case, the KPK explained that within the period of 2020, Richard, who served as Mayor of Ambon City for the 2017-2022 period, had the authority. One of them is related to the approval of the principle permit for the construction of retail branches in Ambon City.

In the process of obtaining the permit, it is suspected that Amri was actively communicating and held a meeting with Richard so that the permit process could be immediately approved and issued.

Following up on Amri's request, Richard then ordered the Head of PUPR Office of the Ambon City Government to immediately process and issue various permit applications including a Business Place Permit (SITU) and a Trading Business Permit (SIUP).

The KPK revealed that for each permit document that was approved and issued, Richard requested that the handover of money with a minimum nominal value of Rp. 25 million use a bank account belonging to Andrew, who is Richard's confidant.

As for the issuance related to the approval in principle for the development of 20 retail outlets, Amri is alleged to have given Richard around Rp500 million in cash which was given in stages through Andrew's bank account.

In addition, Richard is suspected of receiving a flow of funds from various parties as gratification and this will still be further investigated by the KPK investigators.