TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators alleged that Bengkulu governor Ridwan Mukti was the person who arranged the graft details from Sinar Mitra Sepadan boss Jhon Wijaya. Sinar Mitra Sepadan was the company that won two project tenders worth Rp54 billion at the provincial level.
Ridwan Mukti allegedly instructed his wife, Lily martiani, to accept the bribe money from Rico Putra Selatan’s boss Rico Dian Sari.
“The governor’s wife is currently considered to be the broker as instructed by her husband. The total amount of money was first gathered by an entrepreneur who knows the governor’s wife very well,” KPK Deputy Chairman Alexander Marwata said on Wednesday, June 21.
KPK have named Ridwan, Lily, Jhoni, and Rico as suspects in the graft case. Rico was the first suspect arrested on Tuesday, June 20, who had just arrived home from Ridwan’s house, where the transaction took place.
Governor Ridwan actually blamed his wife through a statement he issued not long after he was questioned by KPK investigators. “I apologize and I must take responsibility for my wife’s mistake,” he said.
Ridwan Mukti promised that he would step down from his current position as the Bengkulu governor.
FRANSISCO | INDRI MAULIDAR | PHESI ESTER
