TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Legal advisor to Muara Enim Regent, Ahmad Yani, Maqdir Ismail has accused the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)’s sting operation on his client to be a political maneuver. The objective, he said, was to jeopardize Firli Bahuri’s candidacy to be in a leadership position within the KPK.

“Chief of KPK’s distaste towards the then, South Sumatra Chief of Police, Firli Bahuri, was clear as day,” uttered Maqdir when reading the exception in the Palembang Corruption Court (Tipikor), on Tuesday, January 7th 2020.

According to Maqdir, the root of the conflict between the KPK leadership positions during Agus Rahardjo and Co.’s era started when Firli was still KPK’s incumbent deputy for enforcement. FirlI was thought to have done ethical violations, as he met a few parties that had been litigated by the KPK. This polemic then effectively withdrew Firli from the KPK and back into the police force, where he was then groomed to be the South Sumatra Chief of Police, in late June of 2019.

Not long after, Firli ran as a candidate to be Chief of KPK, for the 2019-2023 period. He was then officiated to be Chief of KPK through means of acclamation in the People's Representative Council. According to Maqdir, the sting operation on his client was a ploy to derail Firli’s candidacy, as Firli’s name had surfaced in a corruption case tapping that prosecuted his client.

KPK apprehended Muara Enim’s Regent, Ahmad Yani, along with Muara Enim’s PUPR Chief of Roadworks and Bridges Office, Elfin MZ Muchtar, as well as a contractor by the name of Robi Okta Fahlevi. KPK surmised that Yani and Elfin received a total of Rp 12.5 billion from 16 project packages in Muara Enim, from Robi.

KPK apprehended the three on September 2nd 2019, at which point, Elfin had just accepted US$ 35 thousand, roughly equal to Rp 500 million, from Robi. Elfin had planned to hand the money to Firli, as the then South Sumatra Chief of Police. Elfin stated that the distribution of the bribe money was not of Firli’s request, it was instead Yani’s own initiative. Yani wanted to give the money as a ‘welcoming present’ for the newly officiated South Sumatra Chief of Police.

According to Maqdir, if the money had been handed to Firli, the KPK will use it as a means to vilify Firli by publicizing that the South Sumatra Chief of Police, has accepted bribe money.

M ROSSENO AJI