Bogus KPK members nabbed for extortion

Wed, 09/03/2008 10:43 AM  |  The Archipelago

MEDAN: North Sumatra Police arrested on Tuesday two men claiming to be members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly extorting money from Toba Samosir Regent Monang Sitorus.

The two, Samsul Maliki and Subur Sembiring, were arrested at a hotel in Medan after receiving Rp 5 million (US$555) from Sitorus' lawyer Wanrinson Sinaga.

The two are currently in police custody for further investigation.

Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Baharudin Djafar said the police were intensively investigating whether the two had a network.

"They allegedly forced the regent to give them Rp 1.5 billion, saying they would arrest him if he refused to give them the money," Baharudin said.

Sinaga said Samsul and Sembiring had intimidated the regent by saying he was involved in the misuse of Rp 3 billion of regency budget funds.

"We checked their names with the KPK office but they were not recognized," he said. --JP

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