Two fake prosecutors face trial for obstructing investigation

Makassar (ANTARA) - Two defendants accused of posing as prosecutors, Ahmad Apuh Maulana and Rusman, are undergoing the first hearing in the obstruction of justice case at the Makassar Corruption Court related to alleged corruption at the Housing Provision Implementing Agency (BP2P) Sulawesi III. “The actions of the defendant Ahmad Apuh Maulana intentionally convinced Witness II by claiming to be an employee of the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office in this case,” said the Head of Legal Information Section of the South Sulawesi Prosecutor’s Office, Soetarmi, delivering the prosecutor’s indictment in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Thursday. In addition, both defendants also directed Witness II (corruption suspect IS), who was then under examination in the corruption case of official travel, to hide his assets to avoid seizure by investigators. Their modus operandi involved asking the witness to withdraw most of the balance from his bank account to concealing two vehicles owned by Witness II to prevent seizure by investigators. In return for their services, defendants Ahmad Apuh Maulana and Rusman received money from Witness II. Their actions are deemed to have thwarted efforts to recover state financial losses by hiding evidence that should have been seized by investigators. Furthermore, Article 20 letter a of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP) and Article II paragraph (8) of Appendix I of Law No. 1 of 2026 on Penal Adjustment. Soetarmi said the hearing will continue next week with the agenda of objections filed by defendant Rusman. Meanwhile, defendant Ahmad Apuh Maulana was given one week by the panel of judges to prepare legal counsel to accompany the examination in the trial. “The Prosecutor’s Office reaffirms its commitment to firmly prosecuting anyone who attempts to obstruct the legal process, especially in corruption cases that harm the state,” said Soetarmi. Ahmad Apuh Maulana alias Pung, who claimed to be a prosecutor, was arrested in a hand arrest operation (OTT). In addition to Ahmad, another individual, Rusman, as a part-time PPPK, was also apprehended at the South Sulawesi Building Layout, Infrastructure, and Area Agency (BPBPK Sulsel) on Friday (9/1/2025). These defendants claimed to be prosecutors and had the authority to halt the corruption case handled by the Special Criminal Team of the South Sulawesi Prosecutor’s Office, even promising their victims graduation as PPPK or CPNS in the Prosecutor’s Office. This practice was carried out after the defendants received information on the release of the fictitious official travel corruption case at the Housing Provision Implementing Agency Sulawesi III for the 2022-2023 period at the South Sulawesi Prosecutor’s Office regarding the determination of IS as a suspect in May 2025.