TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained Lippo Group operational director Billy Sindoro in the alleged bribery of the Meikarta project permit. He was detained after nearly 15 hours of questioning at the KPK Building in Jakarta.

"For the first 20 days he will be held at the Jakarta Metro Police detention center," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said on Tuesday, October 16.

The KPK named Billy and fellow Lippo Group employees, consultants Taryudi and Fitra Djaja Purnama, as well as another staff Henry Jasmen, as suspects for providing bribes for the Meikarta project permit.

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The antigraft body charged them with allegations of bribing the Bekasi Regent and four officials in the Bekasi Regency Government to obtain permit for the mega project. The total amount of money allegedly paid as a permit fee is estimated to reach Rp13 billion.

KPK suspects Billy of ordering his subordinates to commit the bribery. "He knew and gave orders to consultants in his company," KPK deputy Laode M. Syarif said.

After naming Billy a suspect, the KPK arrested him at his home on the evening of Monday, October 14. He arrived at the KPK building at 23:30 that night, and was questioned for almost 15 hours. Billy left the building on the afternoon of the next day, declining to give statements to reporters.

Denny Indrayana, the attorney of PT Mahkota Sentosa Utama (PT MSU)--the developer of Meikarta, said the company would conduct an internal investigation related to the alleged bribery.