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High electoral costs make regional leaders vulnerable to corruption
A string of arrests of regional leaders by the antigraft agency highlights the country’s persistent struggle to eradicate corruption in local administrations, with activists blaming it on high electoral costs.
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Local poll administrators (KPPS) in Banjarsari, Surakarta, Central Java, wear orange uniforms with the text “not Corruption Eradication Committee [KPK] prisoners” printed on the back. They wore the t-shirts to commemorate International Anticorruption Day, which fell on the same day as the poll on Dec. 9, 2020. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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string of arrests of regional leaders by the antigraft agency highlights the country’s persistent struggle to eradicate corruption in local administrations, with activists blaming it on high electoral costs.
The latest case was North Penajam Paser regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud of the Democratic Party who was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) last week for allegedly accepting bribes related to a number of construction projects in the regency in East Kalimantan.
KPK investigators also named the treasurer of the Democratic Party's Balikpapan office, also in East Kalimantan, a suspect in the case and, according to KPK deputy head Alexander Marwata, were investigating whether or not the party also received the illicit money.
The party has denied any involvement in the case, according to media reports.
Abdul's arrest came only a week after the KPK nabbed and named Bekasi mayor Rahmat Effendi of Golkar Party a suspect in a different bribery case related to botched land procurement for a number of construction projects in the city in West Java. He is also suspected of collecting money from his subordinates in favor of certain positions in his administration.
Rahmat was the latest Bekasi mayor to be arrested on suspicion of corruption after his immediate predecessor Mochtar Mohammad was named a suspect in a different bribery case in 2011 and later sentenced to six years in prison in 2012.
In Mochtar’s stead, Rahmat became acting Bekasi mayor until 2011. He then won two back-to-back regional elections, in 2013 and 2018, cementing his mayorship position until 2023.
