B

ekasi Fire Agency head Sahat Maju Banjarnahor and his counseling and prevention division head Asep Buchori say they received a total of Rp 1 billion (US$70,961) in bribes from the Meikarta megacity project.

The claim was made on Monday during a trial at the Bandung Corruption Court in West Java of several defendants including Lippo Group executive Billy Sindoro, consultant Fitra Djaja Purnama and Bekasi regency administration officials, who worked on the licensing process for Meikarta.

Speaking as witnesses, Sahat and Asep said they received the money for issuing a recommendation on fire extinguisher installation for the project. The recommendation was needed to propose the building permit for Meikarta.

“Pak Asep told me to help accelerate the recommendation because there was an instruction from the regent,” said Sahat.

Of the money, Sahat received Rp 610 million, Asep received Rp 270 million, and some Rp 30 million was handed over to Bekasi Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin.

“It was unofficial money, Sir, a bribe,” Asep told the panel of judges.

Corruption Eradication Commission prosecutor I Wayan Riyana said the signing date of the recommendation letter was also falsified. “It was signed in September but it was written ‘May 2018’ to make it in accordance with the other licensing processes for Meikarta,” he said.