West Lombok Regent's Bribery Scheme and Billion-Rupiah Project Manipulation
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named West Lombok Regent Lalu Ahmad Zaini a suspect in a corruption case involving project manipulation and bribery, with the total amount he allegedly received reaching Rp 12.4 billion. ‘Based on valid preliminary evidence, the KPK has elevated this case to the investigation stage and named three individuals as suspects,’ said KPK Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Tuesday (21/7).
Alongside Zaini, the other suspects are Sudirman, the President Director of PT Air Minum Giri Menang Lombok Barat (PT AMGM), and Alvonsus Gani, the President Director of PT Meconel Sistim Instrument (PT MSI). The KPK has charged Lalu Ahmad and Sudirman under Article 12 letter i and Article 12 letter a or b, and/or Article 12B of the Anti-Corruption Law in conjunction with Article 20 letter c and Article 21 of the Criminal Code. Alvonsus is charged under Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with the Criminal Code Adjustment Law.
The case allegedly began when Lalu Ahmad instructed the Head of the West Lombok Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPRPKP), Lalu Ratnawi, to assist Sudirman in securing projects. Sudirman subsequently used CV Dyas Karya Konstruksi (DKK) as a project vehicle. Sudirman ‘borrowed the flags’ of other providers so that CV DKK would not be administratively recorded as the winner of projects at the West Lombok PUPRPKP Agency, a tactic used to prevent public detection of a conflict of interest. The tender requirements were then tailored to ensure Sudirman’s victory. Consequently, Sudirman won projects worth Rp 17.9 billion at the agency through both tenders and direct appointments.
These projects included the rehabilitation of Gerung City Park for Rp 2.3 billion, a second phase of the park’s rehabilitation for Rp 4.3 billion, the construction of an office building for Rp 2.4 billion, and the renovation of the West Lombok Regent’s Office for Rp 1.7 billion. Through direct appointments, Sudirman also secured eight work packages at the Public Works Agency worth Rp 3.4 billion, four packages at the General Affairs Department worth Rp 2 billion, and sixteen packages at the regional water company PT Air Minum Giri Menang worth Rp 1.8 billion. Sudirman allegedly provided a 3 per cent fee to the providers whose names were borrowed, while his own company, CV DKK, gained a profit of Rp 10.6 billion. CV DKK also received projects from the Regional Development Planning Agency and the Youth and Sports Agency, bringing the total project value to Rp 41.7 billion.
From this total, Rp 10.8 billion was allegedly channelled to Regent Lalu Ahmad Zaini. In addition, Zaini is suspected of receiving bribes from Alvonsus Gani after his company won a clean water management project in West Lombok worth Rp 27.1 billion. The KPK alleges that PT MSI routinely provided goods, facilities, and cash to Zaini, totalling more than Rp 1.6 billion. The items included a Toyota Alphard worth Rp 1.2 billion, a pair of Hermes shoes worth Rp 19 million, travel accommodation for the Lombok-Jakarta route, cash of at least Rp 380 million, an iPhone 17 Pro worth Rp 26 million, and a sacrificial cow worth Rp 17 million. In total, Lalu Ahmad Zaini is suspected of receiving Rp 12.4 billion in cash, goods, and facilities.