In East Kalimantan, the KPK also arrested public work and housing agency officials over alleged bribery.
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The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named the regent of Indramayu, West Java, Supendi, a suspect in a bribery case concerning infrastructure projects. In East Kalimantan, the KPK also arrested public work and housing agency officials over alleged bribery.JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The KPK’s arrest of the Indramayu regent in connection with alleged bribery relating to infrastructure projects is a further indication that regional heads have not changed their behavior regarding corruption. To change such behavior, the prevention and supervision system needs to be strengthened.
The KPK named on Tuesday (15/10/2019) Supendi a suspect in a bribery case relating to a road construction project that also implicates Indramayu Public Works and Housing Agency head Omarsyah; the agency’s road sector head Wempy Triyono and Carsa, a private party.
Supendi is the 121st regional head to be named a suspect by the KPK since 2004. In 2019, Supendi became the eighth regional head to be named a suspect by the KPK.
"Corruption in procurement undermines government efforts to realize equitable development throughout Indonesia," KPK deputy chairperson Basaria Pandjaitan told a press conference at the KPK building yesterday.
Supendi has only served as regent of Indramayu for eight months, replacing Anna Sophanah, who resigned. Anna is the wife of Irianto MS Syafiuddin, or Yance, the regent of Indramayu for the 2000-2010 period. Yance was once implicated in a corruption case concerning land acquisition for a steam power plant in Sumuradem village, Sukra district, Indramayu, in the 2004 fiscal year, which caused the state to suffer Rp 4.1 billion in losses.
The bribery allegations against Supendi are also related to the procurement of goods and services. He is suspected of taking bribes together with Omarsyah. The alleged bribery allowed a certain private firm to get the project. Seven projects worth Rp 15 billion were obtained by CV Agung Resik Pratama, the majority of which were road construction projects. The granting of the alleged bribes was based on an agreement of 5-7 percent of the project value.
According to KPK data, the most common mode of corruption by regional heads is bribery and gratuity in exchange for projects.
Basaria said efforts to stamp out corruption could not be left to the KPK alone. Ministries, institutions and communities must all work together she said.
The KPK has encouraged the implementation of the National Strategy for Corruption Prevention. "However, humans are the ones who control this system. No matter how well the system is built, it can be engineered by people with corrupt intentions," Basaria said.
Complex problem
Executive director of the Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee Robert Endi Jaweng said persistent corruption among regional heads was a complex problem. In addition to insufficient punishments and the seizure of assets, there are many loopholes in the system.
Furthermore, some political parties do not seriously sanction cadres who commit corruption. The chaotic recruitment system only worsens the problem. "Improvement must start with reforms of political parties and political funding," he said.
Transparency International Indonesia research manager Wawan Suyatmiko said regulations required the handover of goods to be transparent, accountable and participatory. However, corruption still occurs because corrupt behavior is deeply rooted.
In terms of deterrence effects, criminal law lecturer at Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Agustinus Pohan, said financial penalties and imprisonment were effective.
On Tuesday, the KPK also arrested eight people in Samarinda and Bontang, East Kalimantan, including the head of the Regional Road Implementation Agency XII of the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Refly Ruddy Tangkere. This arrest was related to alleged bribery concerning projects in East Kalimantan in 2018 and 2019. (REK/IAN/IKI/SHR)