The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) apprehended Irvan, along with several other administration officials and school headmasters, in a sting operation on Wednesday concerning alleged bribery related to an education fund in the regency.

Siti Komariah, 35, came with her family from her village in Karangtengah, located around 3 kilometers from the city square, to join the celebration where 1,000 portions were served on nasi liwet, a home-cooked traditional meal of rice boiled in coconut milk and served with various side dishes.

“To me it’s sort of a picnic, because there is a beautiful park in the city square, in front of the Cianjur Grand Mosque,” Siti said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co.

Another resident, Ahmad Adnan, a 30-year-old public transportation driver, only worked a half-day so he could join the celebration. “I’d rather join [the event] in the city square than work. It’s crowded anyway,” he said, adding that he had followed the information about the arrest of the regent.

“We would be grateful if corruption could be eradicated because it harms the people, including us, the public transport drivers,” Ahmad said.

Irvan, a NasDem Party politician, has been named a suspect in the bribery case and is accused of asking for and receiving a significant portion of the regency’s Rp 46.8 billion (US$3.2 million) education special allocation fund (DAK). According to the KPK, Irvan asked for 14.5 percent and received 7 percent.

Asep Toha, a local anticorruption activist, said the way the Cianjur residents reacted to the arrest reflected their dissatisfaction with the performance of Irvan’s administration.

“That’s a reasonable reaction, because the residents were dissatisfied [with Irvan],” Asep said.

A son of former regent Tjetjep Muchtar Soleh, the 38-year-old began his political career as a local councilor from the Democratic Party and the Golkar Party. He later won an election and became a regent in 2016, succeeding his father.

Irvan’s arrest is the third time a regional head in West Java has been arrested by the KPK since September. Aside from Irvan, the antigraft body has also arrested Bekasi Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin and Cirebon Regent Sunjaya Purwadisastra.

Neneng was arrested for allegedly receiving kickbacks to issue permits for Lippo Group’s Meikarta modern city project while Sunjaya was suspected of accepting bribes in favor of awarding administrative posts in his regency.

After being questioned by the KPK, Irvan apologized to Cianjur residents for his arrest, but denied accepting cuts from the education budget.

“I apologize to Cianjur regency residents for my negligence in watching the administration personnel who have acted against the law,” he said at the antigraft body’s headquarters in South Jakarta.  

“I take responsibility as a regional head and I hope we all learn from this case.” (foy)

Popular

Is Indonesia really ready to embrace dual citizenship?

Tens of thousands seek better lives in Jakarta. But is the city losing its draw?

Elon Musk's Starlink granted licences to operate in Indonesia