Meikarta Bribery: Tjahjo Kumolo to Testify for Bekasi Regent

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission will question Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo for his alleged involvement in the Meikarta project permit bribery case. Tjahjo will be questioned about suspect Neneng Hasanah Yasin, the inactive Regent of Bekasi.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah confirmed on Friday, Jan. 25, that Tjahjo will be questioned by the antigraft body.

Tjahjo is implicated in the bribery case after Neneng mentioned his name during a hearing on January 14. She said that Tjahjo Kumolo once asked her to help with the license procedures for the Meikarta Project.

"Tjahjo Kumolo told me 'please help with Meikarta's licenses'," Neneng said

Tjahjo confirmed that he had indeed asked Neneng to "help" with the licensing of the Meikarta project. But his request was to find a solution so that the problems of Meikarta were resolved according to the applicable rules.

"To find the best solution," the minister said.

Tjahjo said that the legal basis of the Home Affairs Ministry's involvement in Meikarta project is not on licensing techniques but on aspects of fostering regional governments as regulated by law. Licensing and recommendations are the authority of the regent and governor.

The Home Affairs Ministry, he said, only facilitate meetings to minimize polemics between the Provincial Government and Regency Government. Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said he was ready to be examined by the KPK.

M Rosseno Aji