TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named four suspects in relation to a bribery case surrounding the deliberation of the 2018 Jambi Budget Draft. The suspects were arrested in a sting operation conducted on Tuesday, November 28, in Jambi and Jakarta.
“After collecting sufficient preliminary evidence, we escalate the status of the case to an initial investigation,” KPK deputy chief Basaria Panjaitan said at the KPK building in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 29.
The four suspects are former Jambi Legislative Council member Supriono, Jambi acting regional secretary Erwan Malik, Jambi Public Works Agency acting head Arfan, and Jambi administration assistant to deputy III Saipudin.
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The bribe was given to ensure that Jambi Legislative Council members to approve the 2018 Regional Budget Draft. Basaria explained that the money came from private companies made as partners by the local government.
Earlier, as many as 16 individuals were arrested during a sting operation conducted on November 28 in Jambi and Jakarta.
KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said four of them were arrested in Jakarta and 12 others were nabbed in Jambi. The KPK also seized Rp4.7 billion during the operation.
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Supriono, who allegedly received the bribe, will be charged with Article 12 letter a or Article 12 letter b or Article 11 of the Law on Corruption Crimes as amended by Law No. 20/2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, Erwan Malik, Arfan, and Saipudin who gave the money will be charged with Article 5 paragraph 1 letter a or Article 5 paragraph 1 letter b or Article 13 of Law No. 31/1999 of the Law on Corruption Crimes as amended by Law No. 20/2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
FAJAR PEBRIANTO
