Cilacap Regent Taken to Jakarta by KPK Investigators
Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and several officials from Cilacap Regency Government, Central Java, were taken by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigation team to Jakarta after undergoing preliminary questioning at Banyumas City Police Headquarters (Polresta) on Friday evening.
Monitoring at Banyumas Polresta headquarters in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, showed Syamsul, wearing a white face mask, exiting the Criminal Investigation Unit Building (Satreskrim) at 21.05 WIB, followed by several Cilacap local government officials and KPK investigators.
When questioned by journalists, Syamsul and other officials refused to comment. They proceeded directly to vehicles prepared in the Satreskrim building courtyard. After all officials boarded the minibus, the vehicle left Banyumas Polresta headquarters for Purwokerto Station.
Upon arrival at Purwokerto Station, the delegation entered the VIP waiting room to await the departure of the Purwojaya train bound for Jakarta Gambir at 21.37 WIB.
According to information gathered, in addition to Cilacap’s Regional Secretary, other officials transported to Jakarta with Regent Syamsul included the Assistant for Government and Public Welfare, Assistant for Economy and Development, Assistant for General Administration, Head of Public Works and Spatial Planning Service, Head of Education and Culture Service, and Head of Water Resources Management Service.
Meanwhile, before Regent Syamsul and the officials left Banyumas Polresta headquarters, Cilacap District Parliament Secretary Basuki Priyo Nugroho was observed visiting the Satreskrim building around 19.00 WIB. Basuki exited the building around 20.45 WIB. When approached by journalists, he declined to comment on the KPK investigation of Cilacap government officials. He claimed he had only been on the first floor of the Satreskrim building and had not met with Syamsul or KPK investigators.
The KPK had previously conducted a sting operation against Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rachman and 26 others regarding alleged receipt of funds from projects in Cilacap Regency. “There are allegations of payments received by the regent related to projects in Cilacap Regency, Central Java,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Friday (13 March).
Budi further stated the KPK is currently examining the Cilacap Regent and 26 others before determining their legal status. According to the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), the KPK has 1 × 24 hours to determine the status of those arrested in the sting operation, including the Cilacap Regent who is a regional head in Central Java Province.