Prosecutors Present Legislator Who Rejected Bribe in NTB DPRD Gratification Trial
Mataram (ANTARA) - The public prosecutor presented a witness, Abdul Rahim, a newly elected member of Commission IV of the Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), because he rejected a Rp150 million bribe in the gratification case involving three NTB DPRD members.
In his testimony before the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Mataram District Court on Monday evening, Abdul Rahim, commonly known as Bram, admitted that he first received the bribe offer from Suhaimi, a member of Commission I of the NTB DPRD.
“At that time in April 2025, Suhaimi came to me. He said there was a directive programme from the NTB Governor for newly elected DPRD members,” he stated.
Initially, Bram reacted positively and welcomed the intention after Suhaimi mentioned a budget of Rp2 billion per newly elected NTB DPRD member to support the directive programme.
With Rp2 billion per new member, Bram calculated it was commensurate with the total number of 38 newly elected NTB DPRD members, including himself.
“So, that day I also sent (offered) data via WhatsApp to Suhaimi, data for 10 work packages related to the Desa Berdaya programme, valued at Rp200 million per package. There were farm roads, neighbourhood roads, drainage, piping, the total value exactly Rp2 billion,” he said.
After conveying that, Suhaimi visited Bram again about two months after the first meeting.
“He told me that this programme (the offer from Bram) should be set aside for now. How about I give you some money? That night, he offered Rp150 million. There was no money, just the offer,” Bram said.
He rejected the money because he feared the programme he offered, resulting from two recesses in the NTB DPRD since his inauguration in September 2024, would not be implemented.
After rejecting the money offer from Suhaimi, Bram said his fellow legislator, who sits in the NTB DPRD for the 2024-2029 period, called someone.
“He (Suhaimi) called his friend, at that time Mr Hamdan Kasim (the defendant), he said,” stated Bram, who admitted he did not hear Suhaimi’s telephone conversation.
Bram admitted he did not ask Suhaimi further about the origin of the money. After the second meeting, Suhaimi did not meet him again.
“That night Suhaimi left me. There were no more meetings with Suhaimi after that,” he said.
“I checked with the Regional Office (OPD), the programme exists; out of the 10 packages I offered then, nine of them were issued in the Budget Implementation List (DPA),” he said.
In addition to checking with the OPD, Bram admitted before the panel of judges that he received information from another fellow legislator, Wahyu from the PKB faction.
“Wahyu said he received some money, Rp150 million. Sorry, it was conveyed from Nashib Iqroman (the defendant). Wahyu also said Hulaimi received it too,” he stated.
Confused
Due to the uproar over this issue appearing in various media, Bram took the initiative to hold a press conference before the plenary session momentum at the NTB DPRD. His intention was to clarify the information circulating in society.
“When I came to the chairman’s room, the NTB Governor, the deputy chairman were already there,” he said, also mentioning that several other people were present.
He said that NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal explained the existence of the Desa Berdaya directive programme.
“The Governor told me that this programme is indeed for newly elected DPRD members,” he said.
He also admitted to being confused by the statement, considering that the newly elected DPRD members at that time did not yet have the right to receive principal idea funds (pokir).
“Regarding the money, the Governor said he didn’t know,” Bram said.