JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested Pemalang Regent Anom Widiyantoro over alleged corruption, adding to the growing list of regional leaders implicated in graft cases this year.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said Anom was among 22 people detained during coordinated raids in Jakarta, Pemalang and Purworejo, Central Java, on Tuesday.
"Five of those arrested in Jakarta, including regent Anom, are currently undergoing intensive questioning at the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta," Budi said on Wednesday (July 29), as quoted by Kompas.com.
Among those detained was Anom's wife, Noor Faizah Maenofie, who was transferred to the KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday after undergoing questioning at the Pemalang Police headquarters the previous day.
Pemalang Regional Secretary Bagus Sutopo, Pemalang Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head Joko Tri Asmoro and several other local officials were also taken to Jakarta for further questioning.
As part of Tuesday’s operation, KPK investigators sealed several locations allegedly connected to the case, including the office of the Pemalang Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head and two houses in Mulyoharjo subdistrict, believed to be owned by the regent's relatives.
Investigators also confiscated Rp 2 billion in cash during the raid. Budi said Anom's detention was linked to alleged corruption involving projects carried out by the Pemalang administration, as well as suspected bribery related to the appointment and promotion of government officials.
He said the KPK was still finalising the details of the case and determining the charges that could be brought against those involved, including possible allegations of extortion.
Etik is the fifth regional head in Central Java and the 11th nationwide to be arrested by the KPK on corruption allegations this year.
The KPK began the year by arresting Madiun Mayor Maidi in East Java in January for allegedly soliciting large sums of money from business owners in exchange for operational permits.
Later that month, the agency arrested Pati Regent Sudewo in Central Java over allegations that he extorted candidates seeking appointments in 401 village administrations across 21 districts in the regency.
In March, the KPK arrested Cilacap Regent Syamsul Auliya Rahman, also in Central Java, for allegedly ordering local government agencies to contribute between Rp 75 million and Rp 100 million each for what he claimed were holiday bonuses to be distributed to unspecified recipients.
The same month, investigators detained Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari in Bengkulu for allegedly demanding kickbacks worth billions of rupiah from contractors awarded infrastructure projects across the regency.
Also in March, Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq in Central Java was arrested for allegedly manipulating public procurement tenders to steer government contracts to companies linked to her family.
In April, the KPK arrested Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo in East Java for allegedly extorting billions of rupiah from local officials, ordering them to manipulate budget allocations for his benefit and threatening to dismiss those who refused to comply.
Muara Enim Regent Edison in South Sumatra was arrested in June over allegations that he accepted bribes and gratuities linked to procurement projects at the regency's Education and Culture Agency.
Since the beginning of this month, the KPK has also taken action against three other regional leaders in separate corruption cases.
Among them were Langkat Regent Syah "Ondim" Afandin, who was arrested over alleged bribery linked to procurement projects at the local Education Agency, and Kuantan Singingi Regent Suhardiman Amby of Riau, who was detained in a separate bribery investigation.
The antigraft agency also investigated Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani over allegations that she demanded a share of funds from government agencies and extorted officials within the regency administration for billions of rupiah- The Jakarta Post/ANN
