T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Mandailing Natal Regent Hidayat Batubara in Medan on Wednesday after questioning him on Tuesday in relation to the recent arrest of three suspects for alleged bribery.

Hidayat was arrested at the residence of one of his lawyers in Veteran Laut Dendang housing complex in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. KPK suspects the regent to have accepted a bribe of Rp 1 billion (US$102,585) related to subordinate region fund (BDB) from the North Sumatra provincial administration

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Hidayat was directly flown to Jakarta after being arrested. Previously the KPK raided Batubara's private residence on Jl. Sei Asahan, Medan, on Tuesday, confiscating a number of documents.

Johan said KPK had previously arrested a contractor, SP, who is believed to have bribed Hidayat at around noon at the regent's private residence on Jl. Sei Asahan in Medan.

After handing over the money, KPK investigators arrested SP and Mandailing Natal Public Works Agency acting chief Chairul Anwar in Medan.