KPK Expands Investigation into Alleged Road Infrastructure Corruption in North Sumatra
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is expanding its investigation into a case of alleged corruption in the road construction projects at the Public Works and Spatial Planning Department (PUPR) of North Sumatra Province, as well as the road preservation projects at the National Road Development Unit (Satker PJN) Region I of North Sumatra.
This case development follows up on a previous Sting Operation (OTT) related to infrastructure projects in the area.
“KPK is developing the investigation of the case that originated from the sting operation, namely those related to infrastructure projects at PUPR, the North Sumatra Provincial PUPR region, and also PJN I North Sumatra,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday night (5/5).
Budi explained that they are using a general Investigation Order (Sprindik), so suspects to be prosecuted are being sought during the investigation stage.
“Well, this is a development. Still a general Sprindik. So, no parties have been designated as suspects yet,” he said.
This case is a development from the one that implicated Topan Obaja Ginting, a close associate of North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, and his associates.
In addition to Topan, KPK is also prosecuting the Head of the Gn. Tua UPTD of the North Sumatra Provincial PUPR Department who also serves as PPK, Rasuli Efendi Siregar, and the PPK of the Satker PJN Region I of North Sumatra Province, Heliyanto.
The panel of judges at the Medan Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Medan District Court (PN) has declared them guilty of committing corruption offences and imposed different sentences.
Witnesses examined in North Sumatra
Regarding the ongoing investigation, Budi continued, investigators have scheduled examinations of witnesses.
“We will update on the examinations related to what is being delved into with the witnesses,” said Budi.
On Tuesday last, seven witnesses were scheduled to be examined by KPK. The examinations took place at the office of the North Sumatra Provincial Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) Representative.
The witnesses include a civil servant at the North Sumatra National Road Implementation Centre, Manaek Manalu; the Head of Satker PJPN Region II North Sumatra for 2023-2024, T. Rahmansyah Putra; a civil servant or PPK 1.2 of the North Sumatra BBPJN, Heri Handoko; and PPK 1.1 of the North Sumatra BBPJN, Faisal.
Then, retired civil servant-PPK 1.4 of the North Sumatra BBPJN, Munson Ponter Paulus Hutauruk; civil servant-Head of Satker PJN Region I North Sumatra for the 2021-2023 period - Head of the Road and Bridge Development Division of the Ministry of PUPR of North Sumatra Province, Rahmad Parulian; and Head of Satker Region I PJN, Dicky Erlangga.
“Today [Tuesday] we started conducting examinations of several witnesses for the first time,” said Budi.