Bupati Rejang Lebong Taken to Jakarta
Bengkulu — The Regent of Rejang Lebong District in Bengkulu Province, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, along with seven other individuals, was transported to Jakarta on Tuesday morning for further questioning following a hand-catching operation (OTT) conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday afternoon (9 March).
The operation targeting the Regent of Rejang Lebong is suspected to be connected with project fee kickback practices within the Rejang Lebong District Government.
According to information received, the KPK team took action against the Regent following a series of closed investigations.
Based on field observations, the KPK brought in seven individuals, including Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari, who was wearing a white shirt and jeans, under strict escort by personnel from Bengkulu City Police Resort (Polresta) and Kepahiang Police.
The operation began on Monday morning (9 March) when the KPK team conducted surveillance of the Regent’s activities in South Bengkulu District whilst he attended an internal event. The KPK team then moved towards his private residence on Hibrida Street, Sidomulyo Village, Gading Cempaka District, Bengkulu City.
During the enforcement and search operation, the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR) of Rejang Lebong District, Hary Eko Purnomo, was also present at the Regent’s residence. Subsequently, at approximately 18:00 (Western Indonesia Time), the KPK team brought several individuals to Bengkulu City Police Resort for preliminary questioning.
In addition to securing individuals, the KPK team also seized several pieces of evidence including mobile phones and amounts of cash allegedly originating from contractors and related to the suspected project fee disbursements.
For his part, the Kepahiang Police Chief, AKBP Yuriko Fernanda, confirmed that Kepahiang Police Station was used by the KPK team for questioning. “We simply provided the venue for the KPK’s questioning,” he stated. “It was borrowed starting at 23:00 (Western Indonesia Time).”