Close Person Arrested by KPK, Bobby Admits to Joining Off-Road with Suspect

MEDAN, KOMPAS – The Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, has finally responded to the arrest of five suspects in the corruption case related to road construction in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra. Bobby acknowledged that he had previously inspected the damaged road together with the suspects from the North Sumatra Public Works and Spatial Planning Office and prospective contractors from the private sector.

"This is honest, I just found out that the person concerned, the one who was affected, the one from the businessman, was also (reviewing the road with an off-road vehicle). In fact, his car was in front of mine," said Bobby at the North Sumatra Governor's Office, Medan, Monday (6/30/2025).

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday (26/6/2025) arrested five suspects in a corruption case related to the construction and maintenance of roads within the North Sumatra Public Works and Spatial Planning Office and the National Road Implementation Work Unit (Satker PJN) Region I North Sumatra, with a total project value of IDR 231.8 billion.

Five suspects who were arrested are Topan Obaja Putra Ginting (TOP), the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra, Rasuli Efendi Siregar (RES), the Head of the Gunung Tua UPTD of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of North Sumatra, Heliyanto (HEL) from the PJN Working Unit of Region I North Sumatra, M Akhirun Efendi Siregar (KIR), the President Director of PT DNG, and M Rayhan Dulasmi Pilang (RAY), the Director of PT RN.

The corruption case is related to the Sipiongot-Labusel border road project valued at Rp 96 billion and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road project valued at Rp 61.8 billion.

Bobby directly reviewed the road with an off-road vehicle until entering a remote area in Sipiongot Village, Dolok District, North Padang Lawas Regency. The suspects, including prospective contractors, also reviewed the road with Bobby.

"I saw it directly because the total length of the roads to be repaired is extensive, and the budget is substantial. Therefore, I want to verify whether the condition of the roads that were photographed and sent to me is accurate," said Bobby.

Bobby said they used special off-road cars and were accompanied by the Indonesian Off-Road Federation (IOF). However, Bobby did not explain why the contractors who would participate in the job auction could review the road with Bobby and the commitment-making officials who should not be able to communicate directly.

Previously, Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) Asep Guntur Rahayu in a press conference at the KPK's Red and White Building, Jakarta, Saturday (6/28/2025), said that the alleged corruption in the road construction project at PUPR North Sumatra began on April 22, 2025 when KIR and DNG as prospective contractors, together with Topan and RES conducted an off-road survey. Bobby then participated in reviewing the road on April 24.

After the survey, Topan instructed RES to appoint KIR as a partner/provider, bypassing the mechanisms and regulations in the procurement of goods and services for the Sipiongot-Labusel border road construction project and the Hutaimbaru-Sipiongot road construction project. The total value of both projects is Rp 157.8 billion.

RES contacted KIR, primarily informing them that a road construction project would be launched in June 2025 and requested KIR to follow up and submit a proposal. Between June 23-26, 2025, KIR instructed its staff members to coordinate with RES and the UPTD staff to prepare the technical aspects related to the e-catalog process.

KIR, together with RES and the staff members of UPTD, organized the e-catalog process so that PT DGN could win the Sipiongot-Labusel border road construction project. Meanwhile, for other projects, it is recommended that the package display be given a one-week interval to avoid being too conspicuous.

In the regulation of the e-catalog process at the North Sumatra Public Works and Housing Office, there was a transfer of funds from KIR and RAY to RES through bank transfer. Additionally, it is also suspected that there were other receipts by Topan from KIR and RAY through intermediaries.

Topan is suspected of having received a total of Rp 2 billion to arrange the auction winners. This commission is the initial payment of the commission requested by Topan, which is 4-5 percent or approximately Rp 9 billion - Rp 11 billion from the total project value of Rp 231.8 billion.