Caught in OTT, Head of PUPR and Member of OKU DPRD, South Sumatra, are Suspects in Bribery Projects

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, has named six individuals as suspects in a bribery case involving a project at the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office, or PUPR, of Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra. The designation was made following a sting operation conducted by KPK. They are suspected of being involved in a criminal conspiracy related to the management and planning of the project.

The recipients of the bribes were the Head of the Public Works and Housing Agency (PUPR) of OKU Regency, Nopriansyah; the Chairman of Commission III of the OKU Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), M Fahrudin; a member of Commission III of the OKU DPRD, Ferlan Juliansyah; and the Chairwoman of Commission II of the OKU DPRD, Umi Hartati. Meanwhile, the two other suspects were the bribe givers from the private sector, namely M Fauzi alias Pablo and Ahmad Sugeng Santoso.

They were caught in a sting operation (OTT) by the KPK in OKU Regency, South Sumatra, on Saturday (15/3/2025). Initially, the KPK brought eight individuals to Jakarta for discussion in a case exposure meeting. However, two others were found to lack sufficient evidence and were sent home.

The Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Setyo Budiyanto, during a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Sunday (16/3/2025), explained that the case originated from discussions on the Draft Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBD) for OKU for the 2025 Fiscal Year in January 2025. In order for the RAPBD to be approved, members of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) intended to meet with the government representatives first.

"Then, during the discussion, representatives from DPRD requested allocations for 'pokir' (proposals from DPRD members for the procurement of goods and services), as allegedly had been done before. It was then agreed that the 'pokir' allocations would be converted into physical projects under the PUPR Office," he stated.

The result of collusion between the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and the OKU Regional Government agreed on an allocation of Rp 45 billion for constituency funds. This was calculated from the project value for the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the OKU DPRD amounting to Rp 5 billion, while DPRD members received Rp 1 billion each. However, due to budget efficiency, the allocation for constituency funds was reduced to only Rp 35 billion.

Then, during the discussion, representatives from the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) requested allocation for their proposed ideas, as allegedly had been done before. It was then agreed that the allocation would be converted into physical projects under the Public Works and Housing Agency (PUPR).

The Rp35 billion pokir project quota was changed into a fee or commission for DPRD members of 20 percent (Rp7 billion) and the PUPR Office of 2 percent (Rp700 million). As a result of this evil conspiracy, the total budget of the PUPR Office in the 2025 OKU APBD ballooned two-fold from Rp48 billion to Rp96 billion.

The pokir quota and fee receipts were realized in the form of nine projects, including, rehabilitation of the regent's official residence (Rp 8.3 billion); rehabilitation of the deputy regent's official residence (Rp 2.4 billion); construction of the OKU Regency PUPR Office (Rp 9.8 billion); construction of a bridge in Guna Makmur Village (Rp 983 million); improvement of the Tanjung Manggus Village and Bandar Agung Village main roads (Rp 4.9 billion); improvement of the Panai Makmur Village and Guna Makmur Village roads (Rp 4.9 billion); improvement of unit 16 road, East Kedaton (Rp 4.9 billion); improvement of Jalan Letnan Muda M Sidi Junet (Rp 4.8 billion); and improvement of the Makarti Tama Village road (Rp 3.9 billion).

The KPK found that the Head of the OKU Regency PUPR Service, Nopriansyah, offered a fee agreement to two private contractors, Fauzi and Ahmad. The two contractors agreed to a fee commitment of 22 percent for the OKU DPRD and the OKU PUPR Service.

Ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the DPRD, represented by Ferlan, Fahrudin, and Umi, collected the project fee from Nopriansyah, according to the agreement.

On March 11-12, Fauzi attempted to disburse the down payment for the fee commitment to Nopriansyah. The next day, March 13, Fauzi handed over Rp 2.2 billion to Nopriansyah. Previously, in early March, Ahmad handed over Rp 1.5 billion to Nopriansyah. This means that the total down payment received by Nopriansyah was Rp 3.7 billion.

During the KPK's OTT on March 15, investigators confiscated IDR 2.6 billion at Nopriansyah's house, and 1 Toyota Fortuner unit, documents, communication devices, and other electronic evidence.

KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto regretted the existence of corruption in regional governments, amidst the central government's budget efficiency policy. Executive and legislative officials instead prioritize themselves by creating conspiracies that ignore public interests.

"Therefore, once again I would like to remind you, because this pokir is suspected to be common practice in regional governments and the legislature," he said.

Moreover, this time, the evil conspiracy of the parties will affect the quality of future projects. Because, the work is done by other people and the budget has been cut for illicit money.

KPK Investigation Director Asep Guntur Rahayu added that his party will continue to pursue the involvement of other parties, including local officials and legislators. Because, the formulation of the pokir also involved two OKU acting regents.

In addition, three members of the OKU DPRD who are suspects are also only representatives of their institutions. Asep ensured that his party will continue to pursue other potential suspects.

"Of course we will look into it further and of course it will also be related to previous officials and others. Just wait," he said.