With Corruption Suspect Status, Sidoarjo Regent Immediately Deactivated

Having the status of a suspect in a corruption case, Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali will immediately be inactive from that position.

KOMPAS

The anti-corruption body KPK has named Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali, also known as Gus Muhdlor, as a suspect in a corruption case related to the alleged embezzlement and acceptance of funds within the BPPD environment of Sidoarjo Regency in East Java.

SURABAYA, KOMPAS — All regional heads named as suspects in corruption must be immediately deactivated. Permanent dismissal will be carried out if the verdict has been handed down.

This was said by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian after commemorating Regional Autonomy Day To -28 of 2024 at Taman Surya, Surabaya City Hall, East Java, Thursday (25/4/2024).

Tito answered press questions about the Regent of Sidoarjo Ahmad Mudhlor Ali who has been named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission. Muhdlor was accused of being involved in withholding and receiving tax incentive money and regional levies at the Sidoarjo Regional Tax Services Agency (BPPD).

Also read: Unfortunate fate of Sidoarjo, three regents caught in corruption

According to Tito, if in a corruption case a regional head or deputy regional head is still a witness, they cannot be suspended from their position. However, if they have been deemed a suspect, they can be immediately suspended.

If their status is raised to defendant during the trial, there will be temporary suspension. "If convicted, there will be permanent termination," he said.

HUMAS PEMDA SIDOARJO

Regent of Sidoarjo Ahmad Muhdlor Ali and his wife, Sa'adah, exercising their voting rights at polling station 09 in Kenongo Village, Tulangan District, on Wednesday (14/2/2024).

Muhdlor has been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) since mid-March 2024. The KPK has summoned Muhdlor for questioning as a suspect on Friday (19/4/2024).

However, the son of KH Agoes Ali Masyhuri, the supervisor of the Progressive School of Bumi Shalawat in Sidoarjo, was unable to attend due to illness. During the Commemoration of Regional Autonomy Day in Surabaya, which borders Sidoarjo, Mudhlor was also not seen in attendance.

Separately, Mustofa Abidin, legal advisor to the Regent of Sidoarjo, stated that the legal advisory team has sent a letter to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to reschedule the examination of Muhdlor. Regarding the suspect determination, the legal advisory team will file a pre-trial.

Also read: Absent from Corruption Eradication Commission Examination, Sidoarjo Regent Says Illness

Muhdlor is the third Regent of Sidoarjo to be involved in a corruption case. The two previous Regents were Win Hendarso (2000-2010) and Saiful Ilah (2010-2020).

Since the establishment of KPK in 2002, Muhdlor is the 25th active leader in East Java to become a corruption suspect. If we go back to 1990, Muhdlor is the 30th mayor or regent involved in corruption. That does not include vice mayors or deputy mayors who have been involved in corruption in East Java.

Satria Unggul Wicaksana Prakasa, a senior researcher at the Center for Anti-Corruption and Democracy Studies (Pusad) at the Muhammadiyah Surabaya University, said that the investigation into Muhdlor is important in revealing his involvement in corruption at BPPD.

"That can be read as an intellectual driver," he said.

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Sidoarjo Regent Ahmad Muhdlor Ali came out of the KPK Building to perform Friday prayers, Friday (16/2/2024).

The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered a corruption case at BPPD through a raid and arrest operation (OTT) involving 11 individuals in Sidoarjo on January 25th, 2024. The KPK confiscated cash amounting to IDR 69.9 million as evidence.

Development from OTT, January 29, 2024, Head of the General Affairs and Personnel Sub-Division of BPPD, Siska Wati, was named a suspect. Next, on February 23, 2024, it was the turn of BPPD Head, Ari Suryono, to become a suspect.

The crime is suspected to have started from the BPPD's achievement in reaching the 2023 tax revenue target. This success prompted Muhdlor to issue a decree granting incentives to BPPD employees.

From there, Ari instructed Siska to calculate the amount of incentive funds and incentive fund deductions. According to the KPK, the collection of funds reached at least IDR 2.7 billion. The funds were allegedly flowing, among others, to Ari and Muhdlor.