TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

KPK arrested me due to my popularity on social media: Romahurmuziy

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officially named Romahurmuziy, an ally of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo — who is seeking a second term in office — a suspect in a bribery case involving the Religious Affairs Ministry on Saturday after the antigraft body arrested him in Surabaya, East Java the day before.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, March 22, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

KPK arrested me due to my popularity on social media: Romahurmuziy Showing gratitude: National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (left) and United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy (center) attend the launch of the autobiography of notable Islamic ulema KH Ma'ruf Amin in Jakarta on March 12. (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)

A

lmost a week after being declared a bribery suspect, Muhammad "Romy" Romahurmuziy said on Friday the case had nothing to do with the United Development Party (PPP), the party he had been leading for years prior to his arrest, but was pursued because of his popularity on social media.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officially named Romy, an ally of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo — who is seeking a second term in office — a suspect in a bribery case involving the Religious Affairs Ministry on Saturday after the antigraft body arrested him in Surabaya, East Java the day before.

The KPK also named two other officials suspects of graft.

“This is my personal case. It has nothing to do with the PPP,” he told reporters at the KPK’s headquarters before entering the building prior to his first interrogation as a suspect.

Romy said that the PPP would not give him legal assistance concerning his case because he is no longer the leader of the Islamist party.

On Monday, the antigraft body investigators seized money from the office of Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin during a raid connected to the bribery case.

Rommy said that he was aware of the raid, but did not know whether the money was involved in his case.

“The KPK named me as their most wanted target and later arrested me because, as among other party leaders, I had the greatest number of followers on social media,” he said.

As for his first interrogation as a suspect, he said that he would be very cooperative with the KPK to widen their perspective on the case.

He was scheduled to be interrogated on Thursday, but he postponed the event because of health reasons.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said Rohamurmuziy told him he was not in sick in the detention center before being taken to the KPK’s building for the interrogation as scheduled.

“The suspect said he had difficulty sleeping for several days. The doctor has given him medicine for his complaint,” he said. (das)

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.