JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is expected today (Jan. 7) to examine Governor of Banten Rano Karno, who is also a politician from PDI-P, as a witness in a bribery scandal related to the establishment of Bank Banten.

Rano Karno himself has confirmed that he will answer the KPK’s call for examination session scheduled at around 10:00 am of Jakarta time.

The case began after the KPK caught two local lawmakers of the Banten Legislative Council (DPRD) in a caught-in-the act operation (OTT) during a bribe transaction in Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, back in December 1, 2015. They are SM Hartono and FL Tri Satya. SM Hartono, a politician from the Golkar Party, is deputy speaker of the DPRD Banten. While Tri Satya, a politician from PDI-P, is the head of the DPRD Banten Commission III.

The two local lawmakers were caught altogether with Director of PT Banten Global Development Ricky Tapinongkol in a bribe transaction at a restaurant in Serpong.

The KPK alleged that the bribe transaction at a restaurant in Serpong is related to establishment of new private bank in Banten. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)