T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Malang Mayor Mochamad Anton, who is seeking reelection in the 2018 simultaneous regional elections, a suspect in an alleged bribery case related to the city’s budget deliberation for the 2015 budget year.

Along with Anton, the antigraft body also named 18 Malang City Council members suspects in the same case, including Ya’qud Ananda Gudban from Hanura, who is also contesting in this year’s Malang mayor election.

“Investigators have obtained evidence and [witness] testimony that 18 Malang City Council speakers and members had accepted fees from the mayor and a city’s agency head to ease the budget deliberation,” said KPK deputy chairwoman Basaria Panjaitan on Wednesday.

The investigation into Anton and the local councillors started when the antigraft body arrested Malang City Council Speaker M. Arief Wicaksono and former Malang Public Works Agency head Jarot Edy Sulistyono last August. Jarot allegedly paid Rp 700 million (US$49,000) in bribes to Arief, who later disbursed the money to 18 council members.

“This case shows that corruption can be done in an extensive manner involving regional heads along with his subordinates and members of local councils,” Basaria said.

The KPK has previously signaled it would not halt any investigations into graft cases involving state officials running in the upcoming simultaneous regional elections in 171 participating regions, despite voting day drawing near.