Bribe Money for Local Elections

ANTARA FOTO/INDRIANTO EKO SUWARSO

A woman with the initials MHN (center) arrives at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building in Jakarta to undergo an inspection, Friday (3/7/2020). MHN was suspected of being a bribe provider for East Kutai Regent Ismunandar, who was nabbed in a sting operation in a case of alleged corruption in the procurement of goods and services in the East Kutai regency government, East Kalimantan.

East Kutai Regent Ismunandar and his wife were named suspects in bribery related to an infrastructure project. The bribe money they allegedly received was to be used for the upcoming regional election.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The regent of East Kutai, East Kalimantan, Ismunandar, and his wife Encek UR Firgasih — currently serving as the speaker of East Kutai Legislative Council (DPRD) — have been named suspects in a bribery case related to an infrastructure project. The case is expected to make the public more selective in voting for leaders during the elections.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday night (03/07/2020) named seven people suspects in alleged bribery related to an infrastructure project in the East Kutai regency administration. Five of them were suspected of receiving bribes, namely Ismunandar and Encek, as well as three heads of agencies in East Kutai regency, namely Musyaffa (head of Regional Revenue Agency), Suriansyah (head of Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency) and Aswandini (head of Public Works Agency).

The suspects were detained in different places, namely in the KPK detention house, the Jakarta Police detention center and the Central Jakarta Police detention center.

Meanwhile, two project developers are suspected of giving bribes, namely Aditya Maharani and Deky Aryanto. The suspects were detained in different places, namely in the KPK detention house, the Jakarta Police detention center and the Central Jakarta Police detention center.

KPK deputy chairperson Nawawi Pomolango told a press conference that Ismunandar, in his capacity as regent, had the role of ensuring that the budget for the developers was not slashed, while Encek in her capacity as speaker of the legislative council intervened the appointment of project developers.

Meanwhile, the three heads of agencies allegedly played a role in intervening in the appointment of project developers, accepting bribe money from the developers and arranging items of the project for the developers.

Local elections

Ismunandar, Encek, Aswandini and Musyaffa were arrested in Jakarta, while other suspects were arrested in East Kutai and Samarinda.

Nawawi said Ismunandar\'s visit to Jakarta was part of familiarization activities for his reelection bid as the regent of East Kutai for the period of 2021-2024.

"We are not in a position to comment on whether this [bribery case] is in relation to the campaign and other issues [or] its relevance to the local elections," Nawawi said.

However, he added, the couple – husband and wife – were elected officials, namely a regent and a speaker of the legislative council. He hopes that the public can learn from this bribery case.

From the arrest, the KPK investigators seized Rp 170 million, several bank account books with a total balance of Rp 4.8 billion and a Rp 1.2 billion deposit certificate. However, before the arrest the suspects allegedly received bribe money.

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

The Corruption Eradication Commission led by KPK Deputy Chairman Nawawi Pomolango (center) held a press conference on the activities of the arrest of the East Kutai Regent, East Kalimantan, Ismunandar at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Friday (3/7/2020).

The money received and deposited in Musyaffa\'s bank account, Rp 33 million, was used to pay for air tickets to Jakarta on 1 July, with Rp 15.2 million set aside for their hotel stay in Jakarta. Before that, one of the developers transferred Rp 125 million to someone named Aini, for the logistics of Ismunandar’s reelection campaign.

When asked whether the cash, bank deposits and time deposits seized in the arrest also have something to do with local elections and the reelection bid of Ismunandar, KPK acting spokesman Ali Fikri could not be sure. "Later, the investigators will explore anything related to the use of the bribe money, including the possibility that the amount of the bribe money could swell," he said.

He made sure the local administration would run normally while awaiting the results of the KPK\'s investigation.

Separately, East Kutai deputy regent Kasmidi Bulang regretted this incident. However, he could not comment much regarding the arrests carried out by the KPK. He made sure the local administration would run normally while awaiting the results of the KPK\'s investigation. "We are waiting for developments and results of the KPK\'s investigation," Kasmidi said.

Meeting public expectations

The arrest of Ismunandar and a number of other suspects took place amidst declining public trust in the KPK. In a Kompas Research Poll in June 2020, respondents who consider the KPK image was good accounted for 44.6 percent. Meanwhile, in the January 2020 poll around 64.2 percent of respondents said the KPK image was good.

Nawawi said the arrest proved that the KPK continued to work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of the declining public trust. Nawawi also reminded the state apparatuses to see this arrest as a warning that one must not commit corruption.

"They [state officials] have to be aware that their actions and movements are closely monitored by the KPK through the public eye. This case [East Kutai bribery] was under our monitoring because there are reports from the public," said Nawawi.

Transparency International Indonesia research and campaign manager Wawan Suyatmiko said that the arrest met public expectations. Although the sting operation (OTT) is not a measure of the success of the KPK, it can at least be shock therapy so that people become deterred from committing corruption, especially during the 2020 elections, which will take place in 270 regions. (PDS/CIP/GAL)