KPK Examines DPR Member, Husband of Suspended Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined Ashraff Abu, the husband of the suspended Regent of Pekalongan Fadia Arafiq, as a witness in a suspected corruption case related to conflicts of interest in the Procurement of Goods and Services (PBJ) within the Pekalongan Regency Government, on Wednesday (29/4).
Ashraff, who is a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), was examined in his capacity as a commissioner of PT Raja Nusantara Berjaya for the years 2023-2024. Ashraff began the examination around 10:00 WIB.
“The examination took place at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building under the name AA as a commissioner of PT Raja Nusantara Berjaya for 2023-2024,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Wednesday (29/4) afternoon.
In addition to him, the KPK also summoned Yalnida, a commissioner of PT Rokan Citra Money Changer, who had arrived since 08:58 WIB. Both Ashraff and Yalnida were examined in their capacities as witnesses.
The KPK stated that Regent Fadia had full control over the inflow and outflow of funds at PT Raja Nusantara Berjaya (RNB).
The company was established by Fadia’s family and operates in the field of service provision, also actively serving as a vendor in the procurement of goods and services within the Pekalongan Regency Government.
“In the management of that company, the regent has full control to regulate incoming and outgoing money, including the distribution of money to family members or to parties within the regent’s circle, including trusted individuals,” Budi explained at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Friday (6/3).
Budi recounted that Fadia managed the handling and distribution of funds. Even the arrangements were made through a WhatsApp Group named ‘Belanja RSUD’ with her staff.
For every withdrawal of money for the regent, the staff would always report, document, and send it via that WhatsApp Group.
“One of the pieces of evidence we found are the chats in the WhatsApp Group, and there is documentation of every cash withdrawal to be distributed or given to the regent, which also becomes an important piece of evidence in this case,” he added.
The KPK has designated Fadia as the sole suspect in the suspected corruption case involving outsourcing service procurement and other procurements in the 2023-2026 fiscal years. Fadia is already detained at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building Branch State Detention House (Rutan).
She is charged with violating Article 12 letter i and Article 12 B of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 127 paragraph (1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP).
The case was uncovered by the KPK through a Handcuff Operation (OTT) conducted on Tuesday, 3 March in the early hours.