Terjerat Kasus Suap Izin Minimarket, Wali Kota Ambon Richard Louhenapessy Ditangkap di Mall

Summary

The Mayor of Ambon, Richard Louhenapessy, has been named a suspect in a bribery case involving the issuance of permits for 20 minimarket outlets in Ambon. Louhenapessy allegedly requested a total of 525 million Rupiah in bribes to expedite the approval process for the construction of these retail outlets. Despite claiming to be undergoing medical treatment, KPK discovered he was in good health and arrested him in Jakarta. The implicated minimarkets continue to operate, and the city government has not yet appointed a temporary replacement for Louhenapessy. The case underscores corruption within local governance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Richard Louhenapessy, the Mayor of Ambon, was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a suspect in a bribery case involving retail business permits.
• 😀 The bribery case involves Louhenapessy allegedly receiving a total of 525 million IDR in bribes for facilitating permits for retail outlets in Ambon.
• 😀 The mayor was detained by the KPK while he was in Jakarta for medical treatment, where his health condition was later confirmed to be stable.
• 😀 Louhenapessy initially claimed he could not cooperate with the KPK due to his health, but investigations revealed he was in good health and even visited shopping malls.
• 😀 The case centers around the approval of permits for the development of retail outlets, with 20 stores already built and operating in Ambon.
• 😀 A total of 20 retail outlets were involved, with bribes being paid in stages, with one retail outlet providing 25 million IDR in exchange for a permit approval.
• 😀 The KPK confirmed that the bribes were funneled through one of Louhenapessy's staff members, which were deposited into a bank account.
• 😀 Despite the legal issue, the retail outlets involved in the case continue to operate, though there are discussions about whether they will be used as evidence in the investigation.
• 😀 There has been no official announcement regarding an interim replacement for Louhenapessy, though he has not been seen at his official residence for several days.
• 😀 The investigation into Louhenapessy is part of the KPK’s ongoing efforts to address corruption at the local government level, with the mayor being detained alongside another suspect.

Q & A

Who is Richard Louhenapessy and what charges is he facing?

Richard Louhenapessy is the mayor of Ambon, Indonesia. He is facing charges of bribery related to permits for retail outlets in Ambon, where he allegedly solicited bribes from business owners for the approval of 20 retail outlets.

How much money is Richard Louhenapessy accused of receiving in bribes?

Richard Louhenapessy is accused of receiving bribes totaling IDR 25 million per outlet, which adds up to approximately IDR 500 million for the 20 retail outlets.

How was Richard Louhenapessy apprehended by the KPK?

Richard Louhenapessy was apprehended by the KPK while he was in Jakarta for medical treatment. Despite claiming to be ill, investigations revealed that he was in good health and had been seen visiting a shopping mall.

What was Richard Louhenapessy's initial claim regarding his health and why was it questioned?

Richard Louhenapessy initially claimed that he was too ill to attend KPK summons and was undergoing medical treatment in Jakarta. However, this claim was questioned when it was discovered that he was seen walking around a mall in Jakarta, indicating he was in good health.

How did the bribery scheme involving Richard Louhenapessy work?

The bribery scheme involved Richard Louhenapessy soliciting bribes from business owners seeking approval for retail outlets. The money was allegedly given in installments, with IDR 25 million for each outlet, totaling IDR 500 million for 20 outlets.

What is the status of the retail outlets involved in the bribery case?

The 20 retail outlets involved in the bribery case are already operational and continue to run, even though they are under investigation. There is speculation about whether these outlets will be used as evidence in the case.

Has there been any disruption to the operations of the retail outlets since the arrest?

No, there has been no immediate disruption to the operations of the retail outlets. They continue to operate as usual, despite the ongoing investigation into the mayor.

What is the current status of governance in Ambon following the mayor's arrest?

Following the arrest of Richard Louhenapessy, the governance in Ambon is in a state of uncertainty. The mayor has not been replaced yet, and the local government has not issued any official statements regarding a temporary replacement.

What did KPK discover about Richard Louhenapessy's health after he was apprehended?

After Richard Louhenapessy was apprehended, the KPK confirmed through medical teams that he was in good health. His health status had been a point of contention when he claimed to be too ill to attend KPK summons.

How did the bribery scheme first come to light?

The bribery scheme came to light when there was a growing development of retail outlets in Ambon. Richard Louhenapessy allegedly began influencing the permitting process for these outlets, and gifts or bribes were reported to have been given to him through intermediaries.