The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Purbalingga Regent Tasdi a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to the construction of an Islamic center in the Central Java regency.

“[The suspect] allegedly accepted Rp 100 million [US$7,200] as part of a Rp 500 million commitment fee, or 2.5 percent of the project value of Rp 22 billion, from the company winning a bid for the construction project,” KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said during a press briefing on Tuesday evening.

He further said KPK investigators suspected the regent had previously accepted additional illicit money from the company related to other projects because the construction company, namely PT Sumber Bayak Kreasi, had handled two other construction projects in Purbalingga..

The antigraft body also named Purbalingga Goods and Service Procurement Unit head Hadi Iswanto a suspect for allegedly accepting bribes. Meanwhile, businessmen Hamdani Kosen, Librata Nababan and Ardirawinata Nababan are suspected to have given the bribes to the regency’s officials." said Agus.

All suspects were arrested by graft busters during an operation on Monday evening, during which Rp 100 million in cash was seized.

“Investigators were involved in a car chase during the operation as one of the suspects was trying to hide the money,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said.

The KPK chairman later added Purbalingga was one of the regions visited by the KPK commissioners as requested by the regent. “We thought it showed a strong antigraft commitment. Unfortunately, the regent was eventually arrested.”

Previously, the central executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Purbalingga said the party would revoke Tasdi’s membership for allegedly being involved in the illicit practice. (ebf)