Mirza Bagaskara, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Kapuas Regent Ben Brahim S. Bahat and his wife Ary Egahni Ben Bahat, who is a member of the Parliament, as suspects for allegedly extorting civil servants.
Ali Fikri, a spokesperson for the anti-graft commission, said the two of them today visited the KPK's Merah Putih Building in Jakarta for examination.
"They have been named suspects and are present at the KPK's Merah Putih building. They are currently undergoing questioning as suspects by the KPK investigation team on the 2nd floor," said Ali on Tuesday, March 28.
Ali said the two were suspected of blackmailing a number of ASN employees for personal gain. "When carrying out their duty, they demand, receive, or withhold payments to civil servants or to the general treasury," he explained in a written statement.
Additionally, Ali said that the two also carried out acts of extortion by using their positions as state administrators. "The suspects are also suspected of receiving bribes from several parties related to their positions as state administrators," he said.
For information, Ben Brahim S. Bahat is the Regent of Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, who is also a Golkar Party politician. Meanwhile, his wife Ary Egahni Ben Bahat is a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III from the NasDem faction.