Former Acting Regional Secretary Questioned at Medan District Court, Key Witness to Bobby's Role in the Rp 231 Billion Budget Shift

MEDAN, KOMPAS – The panel of judges at the Medan District Court interrogated former Acting Secretary of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, Effendy Pohan, while he was examined as a witness on Wednesday (1/10/2025). The judges delved into the role of North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution in the budget reallocation for the Sipiongot-Labuhanbatu Selatan border road project and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road, totaling IDR 231.8 billion.

"KPK investigators can issue a new investigation warrant (sprindik) to identify who else is responsible for this matter. It shouldn't just be the end of the matter. This must get to the root of the problem so that North Sumatra can be free from such corrupt practices," said Chief Justice Khamozaro Waruwu.

Effendy was examined for two defendants, namely M Akhirun Efendi Piliang as the President Director of PT Dalihan Natolu Grup and M Rayhan Dulasmi Piliang as the Director of PT Rona Namora.

The two defendants are the winners of the auction for the construction projects of the Sipiongot-Labuhanbatu Selatan road and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road in North Padang Lawas Regency. They are accused of bribing the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR) of North Sumatra, Topan, Rasuli Efendi Siregar as the Head of the UPTD Gunung Tua of the PUPR North Sumatra, and Heliyanto from the National Road Implementation Work Unit (PJN) Region I of North Sumatra.

In the hearing, prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also presented two other witnesses, namely the former Head of the Tapanuli Selatan Police, Adjunct Commissioner Yasir Ahmadi, and the former Secretary of the North Sumatra Development Planning, Research, and Development Agency (Bappelitbang), Dikky Anugerah Panjaitan.

Khamozaro is investigating the budget shifts made through the issuance of the Governor Regulation (Pergub) of North Sumatra without the approval of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). As of May, the Governor of North Sumatra has utilized the governor regulation mechanism six times to establish the Amendment to the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (P-APBD) of North Sumatra.

Khamozaro is examining the issuance of North Sumatra Governor Regulation Number 16 of 2025 concerning the Third Amendment to the North Sumatra APBD 2025. The regulation reallocates the budget for financing the construction projects of the Sipiongot-Labuhanbatu Selatan road and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road.

The panel of judges questioned who ordered the budget shift. However, Effendy did not clearly answer who requested the budget shift. He only explained the legal basis used for the budget shift.

Effendy responded that the budget policy is based on the vision and mission of Bobby and Surya as the Governor and Deputy Governor of North Sumatra. However, Effendy did not answer when asked again about who ordered the budget shift for the road project.

"The malicious intent has been evident since the budget shift. The proof is that when there was already a tender winner, there was no planning regarding the construction of this road," said Khamozaro.

Khamozaro also reminded Effendy that the witness, who is a security guard at the Gunung Tua UPTD, had explained in court that Bobby and his group's work visit during the road and off-road surveys was all funded by the prospective contractor who ultimately won the auction.

From the examination in the trial, Khamozaro stated that the road construction package was announced through an electronic auction on Thursday (26/6/2025) at 17:32. Then, at 23:34, the announcement of the auction winner was made, namely PT Dalihan Natolu Grup.

"Do you understand, sir, what is happening in this case? This project’s RUP (general procurement plan) has just been announced, and by night there is already a tender winner," said Khamazaro. Effendy responded that he did not know about the auction process.

Khamazaro then interrogated Effendy regarding the budget shifting procedure through the Governor's Regulation scheme. This mechanism should only be used in emergency situations such as natural disasters. However, in the road construction project in Padang Lawas Utara, there was initially no request or notification from the regent for the construction of the road.

Second, there is no analysis and feasibility study regarding the urgent situation or disaster. Third, there are also no project planning documents, including its financing. Fourth, there are no documents from the road survey.

"The proposal and approval were also carried out within an unreasonable timeframe. Why must the budget shift be forced under the legal framework of the Governor's Regulation? Is there an order or instruction from the leadership, Sir," asked Khamozaro.

Effendy denied the involvement of his leader, Bobby. "Nothing, Your Honor," he said.

Khamozaro stated that, in due course, they will summon Bobby to be examined in the trial. According to Khamozaro, the legal facts in the case cannot stand alone and are part of a chain of events.

"Feel free to deny, but the Panel of Judges has its own analysis because it is unlikely that you would dare to do this alone, shifting the budget by more than Rp 200 billion," said Khamozaro.