T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) apprehended several state officials and headmasters during an operation on Wednesday morning pertaining to alleged bribery related to an education fund in Cianjur, West Java.

KPK deputy chairman Laode Muhammad Syarif said investigators had obtained information about bribes allegedly paid to Cianjur Regent Irvan Rivano Muchtar prior to the arrest.

“The KPK suspects the bribes were collected from headmasters before being handed over to the regent,” Laode said on Wednesday.

It is reported that six people were apprehended during the operation, including the regent himself, an agency head and representatives of the local headmaster’s forum.

Irvan, who is a NasDem Party politician, has been regent since 2016.

The graft busters also seized at least Rp 1.5 billion (US$102,759) during the operation.

Investigators interrogated the apprehended individuals at the KPK office in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

Separately, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said he was saddened by the arrest of the Cianjur regent. He said it was the third time that a regional head in the province had been arrested by the KPK since he was inaugurated as governor in September.

Aside from Irvan, the antigraft body has also arrested Bekasi Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin and Cirebon Regent Sunjaya Purwadisastra, both also for alleged bribery.

“If [becoming a regional head] is a test, not all can pass the test. Many still fail. I am very sorry, but I won’t stop reminding [other regional heads],” said Ridwan.