Nasdem Legislator Admits Receiving Rp 200 Million in NTB DPRD Ghost Money Case

Prosecutors presented several members of the Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) DPRD in the continuation of the gratification “ghost money” case involving three legislators at the Mataram Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Monday (20/4/2026). One of the witnesses presented was Lalu Arif Rahman Hakim. The Nasdem Party politician served as a witness for the defendants Indra Jaya Usman (IJU), Hamdan Kasim, and Muhammad Nashib Ikroman alias Acip. During the trial, Lalu Arif admitted to receiving money amounting to Rp 200 million from one of the defendants. “Yes, there was (receiving Rp 200 million), from Indra Jaya Usman,” said Lalu Arif. He explained that before receiving the money, he first submitted a by name by address (BNBA) as requested by Indra Jaya Usman. “(Indra Jaya Usman) conveyed that there was a programme for us. This is a programme from the team. The success team,” he said. The programme in question was worth Rp 2 billion for 10 activities, each valued at Rp 200 million. The programme was Desa Berdaya, one of the flagship programmes of NTB Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, with a total budget of Rp 76 billion sourced from directive funds. After submitting the BNBA, Lalu Arif received a WhatsApp message from Indra Jaya Usman to meet. He then visited the defendant’s house in Gunungsari, West Lombok. “So, at that time there was a WA (WhatsApp message) from Mr IJU to me, asking to meet. Finally, I decided to go there (the defendant’s house IJU in Gunungsari),” he stated. According to Lalu Arif, in that meeting many things were discussed, but not specifically about the 10 programmes worth Rp 2 billion. When about to leave, the defendant gave him a package. “After I was about to go home, I was entrusted with a package by him. ‘Take it first, entrust it first, take it first’ (imitating the defendant’s voice). Finally, I went home, and only when I got home did I open it. It turned out to contain money. The contents were around Rp 200 million,” he said. Lalu Arif admitted he did not immediately ask about the contents of the package. After finding out it contained money, he took the initiative to meet the defendant the next day. “Right away the next day I confirmed and asked to meet. I wanted to confirm regarding that entrustment. Finally, we agreed to meet at the office (NTB DPRD), and finally we met,” he said. In that meeting, according to Arif, the defendant IJU stated that the giving of the money was a team decision. He also conveyed that if the money was not taken, the programme would not be given. “Meaning, this is related to that programme,” he said. The defendant IJU, continued Arif, even suggested that the programme did not need to be carried out. “Later, don’t carry out that programme. Later, someone else will do it. We just receive the money,” said Lalu Arif, imitating the words of defendant Indra Jaya Usman. Lalu Arif admitted to feeling uneasy after receiving the money. He also had difficulty contacting the defendant Indra Jaya Usman. In the end, the money was entrusted to the NTB Attorney General’s Office. “(Entrusting the money) Because I considered this to be a problem. Besides, it was not my right. I was worried it would become a problem,” he said. Meanwhile, the defendant Indra Jaya Usman denied all of Lalu Arif Rahman Hakim’s testimony in the trial. “Everything is not true,” he retorted.