REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The prosecutor at the Jakarta's special Corruption Court has charged Jambi Governor Zumi Zola with bribing 52 members of the provincial legislative assembly (DPRD) to pass the draft laws on the regional budgets of 2017 and 2018 into law. Zumi Zola, who was elected governor for the 2016-2021 term, was charged with bribing the regional lawmakers with a total fund of Rp16.49 billion.
"The suspect Zumi Zola Zulkifli as Jambi Governor for 2016-2021 term together with Apif Firmansyah, Erwan Malik as acting secretary of the regional administration, Arfan as acting head of the provincial Public Works and Housing Office and Saipudin, assistant 3 at the administration secretariat gave Rp13.09 billion and Rp3.4 billion to the DPRD leaders and members to secure approval for draft laws on regional budget of 2017 and 2018," Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) public prosecutor Tri Anggoro Mukti said at the special corruption court (Tipikor) here on Thursday.
Around November 2016, when the 2017 draft budget was being discussed, Zumi Zola received report from head of the district Public Works and Housing office Dody Irawan about request for money from the DPRD leader Cornelis Buston and chairman of the Commission III of the DPRD Zainal Abidin for the approval of the draft budget. The money was to be distributed among all DPRD members each to have a share of Rp200 million - Rp375 million.
The prosecutor said Zumi then passes an order to the treasurer of Election Success Team, who was his personal assistant Apif Firmansyah to collect money from the "business partners" of the provincial administration to fully meet the request. Zumi also told Apif that the money for the DPRD must not reduce his own share of the fee from the business partners, and that the partners providing the money must be helped that they would be awarded projects in the 2017 fiscal year.
Apif, Dody and a business partner Muhammad Imaduddin alias Iim made a list of partners including Joe Fandy Yoesman alias Asiang, Hartono alias A;iang, Kendry Arion alias Akeng, Rudy Lidra, Ismail alias Mael, Andi Putra Wijaya alias Andi Kerinci, Muhammad Imaduddin alias Iim, Hendri Atas alias Ateng, Abeng, Paut SYakarin, Musa Effendi.
In November 2016, Apif met Cornelis Buston to inform the DPRD leader that the money would be available to be handed over by phases. Cornelis Buston would have a share of Rp1 billion, Abdulrahman Ismail Syahbandar Rp600 million, Chumaidi Zaidi Rp650 million.
On 26 November 2016, there were 13 more members of the Commission III to share Rp175 million each with money provided by Paut Syakarin, a contractor among the business partners.
"After all had received their share of the graft money, the plenary session of the legislative assembly ran smoothly on 30 November 2016 and the draft budget of 2017 was passed into regional regulation. It was signed by the suspect as the governor and Cornelis Buston, the DPRD chairman," the prosecutor said.
Later, chairman of the PAN faction at the DPRD Supriyono asked for money Rp200 million - Rp300 million for each DRPD members, and Rp600 million each for Commission III leaders. "Supriyono himself asked for a project valued at Rp100 billion for his party members to finance the party," the prosecutor said.
Zumi, however, said that the request by Supriyono was too big. Therefore, he promised to give a project valued at Rp50 billion for the party.
The DPRD leaders also asked for projects and a fee of 2 percent from the value of the Simpang Mayang flyover project in the city of Jambi. It was agreed to pay in advance Rp50 million-Rp100 million for each DPRD member, the prosecutor went on to say.
Zumi was also charged with accepting Rp40.477 billion and US$177.3000 and S$100,000 or a total of Rp44.138 billion and an Alphard car in graft.