Bali Prosecutors Office to Question 10 Witnesses in Alleged Rp100bn Extortion by Traditional Village Head

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bali Prosecutor's Office will question 10 witnesses in the case of KR, the Bendesa Adat of Berawa, who allegedly extorted Rp 100 billion from a businessman in exchange for investment permits. A Bendesa Adat is the highest leader of a traditional village in Bali's customary village structure.

The purpose of questioning witnesses is to complete the case file before it is submitted to the court with the prosecutor.

Putu Agus Eka Sabana, head of the Legal Information Section at the Bali Prosecutor's Office, said investigators questioned two of the 10 witnesses on Monday, May 6. Both witnesses are employees of the Bali regional government.

On Thursday, May 2, KR was caught red-handed in a transaction at a cafe in the Renon area of Denpasar. KR is alleged to have solicited a tip of Rp. 10 billion as a bribe for the issuance of recommended investment permits. He was arrested by investigators from the Prosecutor's Office disguised as a motorcycle courier.

In a re-enactment of the extortion case, it was revealed that a businessman gave KR Rp100 million in cash at Kafe Casa Bunga, Renon, Denpasar, Bali.

The prosecution is charging the Bendesa of Berawa under Article 12(e) of Law No. 20 of 2001 on Amendments to Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.

ADIL AL HASAN

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