Central Mamberamo Regent Allegedly Fleeed To Papua New Guinea When Picked Up By Force, KPK Threatens To Issue DPO

Central Mamberamo Regent Ricky Ham Pagawak. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Central Mamberamo Regent Ricky Ham Pagawak is suspected of fleeing to Papua New Guinea when he was about to be forcibly picked up by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Ricky was caught in a gratification case related to the implementation of various projects in the Central Mamberamo District Government in 2013-2019.

Plt. KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, explained that initially the team of investigators scheduled a second summons for Ricky, who is now a suspect, to appear at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday, July 14.

"However, the person concerned did not attend to fulfill the summons without a valid legal basis and the investigation team considers this a form of uncooperative action," Ali said in his statement, Saturday, July 16.

Then, the KPK made an effort to force Ricky to go to Papua. However, there Ricky was not found. Ricky allegedly fled before the KPK found him.

Therefore, Ali appealed to the party in question to be cooperative by fulfilling the summons of the investigation team. If Ricky does not surrender, the KPK has threatened to include his name on the wanted list (DPO).

"For suspects who are not cooperative, the KPK can make arrests and gradually issue DPOs," said Ali.

The Papuan Police confirmed that Ricky fled on Thursday, July 14 through Skouw, Jayapura City. Ricky crossed the path and entered Wutung, Papua New Guinea.

From the reports received, Ricky was seen at the RI-Papua New Guinea border carrying two backpacks.

"It is not yet known what the contents of the backpack are," said Director General of the Papua Police, Kombes Faizal Rahmadani in Jayapura, Papua.

For information, the KPK is currently investigating allegations of bribery and gratification of project implementation in the Central Mamberamo Regency Government (Pemkab).

The KPK has found documents containing money flow transactions. This finding was obtained when investigators searched a number of locations in Bekasi, Central Jakarta, and Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Region.