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Residents shocked as regent named as bribery suspect

Residents of Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, expressed their disbelief over the recent decision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to name Central Tapanuli Regent Raja Bonaran Situmeang as a graft suspect in relation to the 2011 regional election

Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post)
Medan
Fri, August 22, 2014

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Residents shocked as regent named as bribery suspect

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esidents of Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, expressed their disbelief over the recent decision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to name Central Tapanuli Regent Raja Bonaran Situmeang as a graft suspect in relation to the 2011 regional election.

Raja allegedly bribed a judge at the Constitutional Court for his landslide victory in the Central Tapanuli election.

In 2011, the Central Tapanuli General Elections Commission (KPUD) named Raja and his running mate, Syukron Tanjung, as the elected Central Tapanuli regent and vice regent after the pair secured 81,838 ballots, or 62 percent of the vote, while their closest rival Dina Riana Samosir only obtained 48,950 ballots, or 37 percent of the vote.

'€œFrankly, I am startled by the KPK'€™s decision because, based on the election result, there was absolutely no reason for Raja Bonaran to bribe the Constitutional Court. He certainly won it,'€ local resident Antonius Pardosi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Antonius, who claimed to be a member of Raja'€™s team during the campaign period, said that, at the time, most residents showed clear support for Raja. He said some residents even donated funds to the campaign. '€œThere was no chance of Dina winning the election because there was a big gap in votes garnered by Raja. But, all of a sudden, there was an issue of bribery. We are confused,'€ Antonius said.

On Aug. 20, the KPK named Raja as a suspect for bribing former court chief justice Akil Mokhtar.

Akil, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, was found guilty of accepting Rp 57 billion (US$4.9 million) in bribes from a number of regional heads to influence decisions on election disputes during his tenure at the court. He was found guilty of receiving Rp 1.8 billion (about $156,000) in bribes from Raja, who allegedly asked him to influence the court to reject a lawsuit filed by Dina.

Raja expressed his shock at hearing the KPK'€™s decision because he had not yet received any notification about the matter. However, Raja said he would respect the KPK.

'€œI respect the KPK'€™s decision. I will also be cooperative in providing testimony,'€ Raja told media in Central Tapanuli on Thursday.

He said he was sure he would be able to prove that he was not involved in the bribery case, adding that he was ready to prove the KPK'€™s accusation wrong.

'€œPlease, the KPK can go ahead if it has evidence, but I will also prove that I'€™m innocent,'€ said Raja, adding that the Central Tapanuli administration would operate as usual during the legal proceedings.

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