Village Official Candidates in Pati Forced to Sell Assets, Borrow Money to Pay Rp165 Million

Semarang (ANTARA) - A number of village official candidates in Pati Regency, Central Java, admitted selling and pawning their assets to meet a demand for Rp165 million during the appointment process, as revealed at the corruption trial of suspended Pati Regent Sudewo at the Semarang Anti-Corruption Court.

At the hearing presided over by Chief Judge Edwin Pudyono in Semarang on Wednesday, witness Dwi Purwanti said she was asked to prepare Rp165 million after being contacted by the Ronggo Village Head, Sutrisno, if she wanted to take up the post of Head of Financial Affairs.

“I was contacted by Pak Sutrisno, the Ronggo village head. I was asked to prepare Rp165 million if I wanted to take the financial affairs post,” she said.

Dwi said she was given only one day to meet the demand and was forced to borrow money from relatives and neighbours.

Meanwhile, Nur Faidah admitted selling gold and using her savings to pay Rp165 million when taking part in the selection for hamlet head candidate in Sriwedari Village.

The trial also revealed the alleged roles of Sukorukun Village Head Sukarjan and Arumanis Village Head Sumarjono, who were said to have collected money from the village official candidates.

Both were also described as members of Sudewo’s campaign team during the regional election.