Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has asked regional leaders to do their job with prudence and refrain from corruption following the recent arrest of Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"The central government has instructed regional leaders to conduct their job properly. They should not commit the corruption crime nor be arrested by KPK," he said after presiding over a meeting at the Central Sulawesi Governor's Office in Palu, according to a statement received on Thursday.

The anti-corruption agency has followed the prevailing law in its conduct, hence, regional leaders must also abide by the law in their daily activities, the vice president added.

"The KPK has conducted their duty according to law, hence, we ask regional leaders to also abide by the prevailing law while conducting their daily activities," Amin said.

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Earlier, KPK chairperson Firli Bahuri had confirmed that the agency had arrested Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi and 11 other people in Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (January 5, 2022) in connection with a graft case.

"Currently, the Bekasi mayor and some other persons of interest are being questioned by investigators," Bahuri said.

Meanwhile, KPK acting spokesperson Ali Fikri informed that other individuals from public offices and private parties had also been arrested along with the mayor.

"KPK has arrested 12 people in the operation. The Bekasi city mayor, municipal civil apparatus, and individuals from private parties are among those who have been arrested," Fikri said in a written statement issued in Jakarta on Thursday.

He confirmed that Effendi and other individuals arrested in the operation have currently been confined at KPK headquarters in South Jakarta for questioning.

The mayor was arrested for alleged graft in goods and services procurement and the public office tender process of the municipal government, Fikri said.

"According to the information we obtained, the arrest was made in relation to the suspected act of corruption of receiving a promise or benefit for the goods and service procurement and on the public office tender within the Bekasi city government," the acting spokesperson said.

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Translator: Fransiska N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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