Sunjaya Purwadisastra (born 1 June 1965) is an Indonesian politician from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) who was the regent of Cirebon Regency, West Java. First elected in 2013 and sworn in in 2014, he was reelected in the 2018 election and was arrested as a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission before he was sworn in for his second term.

Sunjaya Purwadisastra
Regent of Cirebon
In office
19 March 2014 – 19 March 2019
Preceded byDedi Supardi
Succeeded byImron Rosyadi
Personal details
Born (1965-06-01) 1 June 1965 (age 59)
Palimanan, Cirebon, Indonesia
Political partyPDI-P (until 2018)
Military service
Branch/serviceIndonesian Army
Years of service1998–2012
RankFirst lieutenant

Early life and education

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Sunjaya Purwadisastra was born in Cirebon Regency on 1 June 1965 as the son of a village chief. After completing basic education, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in administrative sciences in 1995 and later in economics in 2000. He also studied at the University of Indonesia and obtained a doctorate in 2017 from Indonesia's Home Government Institute (Institut Pemerintah Dalam Negeri).[1]

Career

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He joined the Indonesian Army in 1998, becoming a first lieutenant and was assigned as adjutant by 2008.[2] He resigned from the army in 2012, and entered politics by joining PDI-P.[3]

As regent

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After failing as an independent candidate in Cirebon's 2008 regency election,[4] Purwadisastra was first elected as regent in 2013 when he won the regency election after securing 403,933 votes (53.43%).[2] Following his victory in the election, it was made public that Purwadisastra had entered the military court for his participation in the 2008 election due to issues with permits from his superiors to participate, and was placed on six months' disciplinary punishment after the court could not prove any wrongdoing.[5] He was sworn in on 21 March 2014.[6]

Purwadisastra expressed interest to run in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, though ended up not running.[7] He was also accused of having mobilized thugs to disperse a communal prayer which concerned the corrupt regency government.[8] In the 2018 Cirebon Regency election, Purwadisastra ran for a second term and secured a victory, following a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court of Indonesia which accused the sitting government of mobilizing public servants.[9]

Corruption case

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On 24 October 2018, Purwadisastra was caught red-handed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and was accused of having received bribes for positions in the local government.[10] Just before the arrest, he had just auctioned seven positions and rotated 592 civil servants.[11] The following day on 25 October 2018, Chief of PDI-P West Java Regional Branch, Tubagus Hasanuddin said that Sunjaya was officially fired from his party membership because he was caught in a red-handed operation by the KPK.[12]

"This case (Operation Hand Catching) is regrettable, of course the party has consistently dismissed Sunjaya from membership as of today," said Tubagus Hasanuddin in Cirebon, Thursday (25/10)[13]

"Because we have been fired from membership, we are not thinking about legal assistance (to Sunjaya). We respect and support the process carried out by the KPK. So let it go," said Tubagus Hasanuddin in Cirebon, Thursday (25/10/2018).[14]

"I just got it from the media last night and immediately cross-checked with colleagues in Cirebon, it turned out that Sunjaya, Cirebon Regent's brother, had been arrested by the KPK," said Tubagus Hasanuddin.[15]

After his trial concluded and he was sentenced, he was still sworn in as regent on 17 May 2019, but was immediately removed from his post some 15 minutes after.[16]

Personal life

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Purwadisastra married Wahyu Tjiptaningsih in 1996, and the couple has four children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sunjaya Purwadisastra, Siap Kembali Memimpin Kabupaten Cirebon". Pikiran Rakyat (in Indonesian). 24 February 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Ini Sosok Sunjaya Purwadisastra, Bupati Cirebon yang Ditangkap KPK". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 26 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. ^ Wamad, Sudirman (24 October 2018). "Sepak Terjang Bupati Cirebon Sebelum Kena OTT KPK". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Bupati Cirebon Purnawirawan TNI & Pernah Diproses Pengadilan Militer". IDN Times (in Indonesian). 25 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. ^ Sembiring, Eidi Krina Jason (21 January 2014). "Sunjaya akui pernah diproses Mahkamah Militer". SINDOnews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Gubernur Jabar Lantik Bupati dan Wakil Bupati Cirebon Periode 2014 – 2019" (in Indonesian). Cirebon Regency. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Deklarasi Sahabat Sunjaya, Bupati Cirebon Maju Pilgub DKI". Jawa Pos (in Indonesian). 4 June 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  8. ^ Gumilang, Prima (29 November 2016). "Bubarkan Istigasah, Bupati Cirebon Dituding Mobilisasi Preman". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Diduga Ada Mobilisasi ASN hingga Keberpihakan KPU, Pilkada Cirebon Digugat ke MK". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 27 July 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  10. ^ "KPK Ungkap Tarif Jabatan Terkait Suap Bupati Cirebon". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 26 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Cirebon Regent Suspected of Selling Office Positions". Tempo. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  12. ^ Wamad, Sudirman. "PDIP Pecat Bupati Cirebon yang Kena OTT KPK". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. ^ "PDI Perjuangan Jabar: Hari Ini Sunjaya Resmi Dipecat". Gesuri.id (The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Website Portal) (in Indonesian).
  14. ^ "PDI Perjuangan Jabar: Hari Ini Sunjaya Resmi Dipecat". jurnaljabar.id (in Indonesian).
  15. ^ "Dicokok KPK, PDI Perjuangan pecat Bupati Cirebon". alinea.id (in Indonesian).
  16. ^ "Sunjaya Dicopot Sebagai Bupati Cirebon 15 Menit Usai Dilantik". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 17 May 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.