Corruption In Meranti Continues To Be Targeted By KPK, Acting Regent Asks Local Government To Be Cooperative

Acting Regent of Meranti Islands Amsar asked the Meranti Islands Regency Government to cooperate if summoned by investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a witness in the alleged corruption case of the inactive Meranti Islands Regent Muhammad Adil (MA).

"I ask all OPD (regional apparatus organizations) and ASN (state civil servants) who are witnesses in the mandatory Hajj case or must come if KPK investigators want it," Asmar said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 29.

However, Asmar was reluctant to comment on his examination with the anti-corruption agency investigators.

"Anyway, whatever investigators ask, I have told you, but if you want to be clear, please ask the investigator," he said.

Furthermore, when asked about the alleged corruption of Muhammad Adil, Amsar admitted that he did not know anything about it. "I don't know, to be honest I don't know," said Asmar.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission officially named Meranti Islands Regent Muhammad Adil as a suspect and immediately detained him in cases of alleged corruption, budget cuts, and bribery.

In addition, the KPK also named two other suspects, namely M. Fahmi Aressa (MFA) as the Young Examiner of the Riau Representative Audit Agency (BPK) and Fitria Nengsih (FN) as the Head of the BPKAD Meranti Islands Regency Government.

KPK investigators have found evidence that the Regent of Meranti Islands Muhammad Adil received around Rp26.1 billion from various parties.

In this case, the Supreme Court allegedly ordered the heads of regional work units (SKPD) to cut the budget by 5 to 10 percent to then be deposited with FN as MA confidants.

In addition to serving as Head of BPKAD of the Meranti Islands Regency Government, FN is also known to have served as Branch Head of PT Tanur Muthmainnah (TM) which is engaged in Umrah travel services.

PT TM was involved in the Umrah departure project for mosque takmirs in Meranti Islands Regency.

The travel company has a program that every time five Umrah pilgrims depart, they will get a free Umrah quota for one person, but in reality, six people will still be billed to the Meranti Islands Regency Government.

The money from the corruption, apart from being used for MA's operational purposes, was also used to bribe MFA to provide an unqualified predicate (WTP) in the financial examination of the Meranti Islands Regency Government.

For their actions, the suspects were charged with the following article, the suspect MA as the recipient of the bribe violated Article 12 letter f or Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code.

The suspect FN as the giver violated Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 5 paragraph (1) letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.

Then MFA as the recipient violated Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.