Searches in Madiun Mayor's CSR Case Target Head of Communications and Informatics Office's Home

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted marathon searches in Madiun City, East Java, this week. These coercive measures were carried out to seek additional evidence related to the handling of the alleged extortion case involving project fees and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, as well as other receipts or gratuities within the Madiun City Government environment. “Indeed, this week investigators conducted intensive marathon searches at several locations in the Madiun City area,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed via written message on Wednesday (8/4). The first search took place on Monday, 6 April 2024, at the home of the Head of the Communications and Informatics Office of Madiun City. The following day, KPK searched the homes of two private individuals. “In those searches, investigators secured several pieces of Electronic Evidence (BBE) and documents allegedly related to the case, namely the alleged criminal act of extortion through project fees and CSR funds, as well as other receipts or gratuities within the Madiun City Government environment,” Budi said. KPK has already prosecuted three suspects in this case. They consist of the inactive Mayor of Madiun, Maidi; Maidi’s trusted aide named Rochim Ruhdiyanto; and the Head of the Public Works Department of Madiun City, Thariq Megah. The suspects have been detained to undergo further investigation. The case implicating Maidi and his associates was uncovered by KPK through a Sting Operation (OTT) conducted in January 2024. In that covert operation, KPK discovered and seized cash evidence amounting to Rp550 million. From the OTT, KPK also uncovered alleged corruption in the form of demands for fees for issuing permits within the Madiun City Government to business actors such as hotels, minimarkets, and franchises. In the ongoing investigation process, KPK has already searched many locations. Among them are Maidi’s private home, Thariq’s private home, the Mayor’s Office, and several city department offices in Madiun. Numerous pieces of evidence related to the case, such as documents and cash, were successfully seized.