Suspect points to ex-minister in graft case

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 03/27/2008 1:33 PM

Former Riau governor Saleh Djasit told the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday about the role played by the then home minister Hari Sabarno in the 2003 purchase of 20 fire engines for the province.

Saleh's lawyer Victor W. Nadapdap said Hari introduced his client to the director of PT Istana Sarana Karya Hengki, Samuel Daud, before Hari issued a letter officially appointing the company as the sole supplier of fire engines for several regional administrations in 2003.

"Daud also visited my client in Pekanbaru after the Riau Legislature officially approved the budget to buy the fire engines," Victor told journalists after his client was questioned by KPK on Wednesday. KPK has declared Daud a fugitive.

Saleh, who is also a House of Representatives member representing the Golkar Party, was grilled for the first time as a suspect in the case, which also involves five regional officials. The questioning lasted four hours.

In March 2003, the Riau legislature agreed to allocate Rp 15.2 billion (US$1.6 million) of the regional budget to buy the fire engines. However, the purchase should have cost the province Rp 10.7 billion according to the market price.

KPK suspects Saleh marked up the price, causing the state to lose Rp 4.5 billion.

The antigraft body arrested Saleh last Wednesday. He is being detained at the Jakarta Police jail in South Jakarta.

Victor insisted his client was not guilty because he only implemented a deal between his administration and the provincial legislature.

"My client only acted as an executor," Victor said.

Saleh served as governor between 1998 and 2003. He is now assigned to the House's Commission VII overseeing energy and mineral resources.

Victor said his client was disappointed with the KPK for arresting him before resolving the problem of the appointment letter issued by Hari, the home minister under President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"KPK should reveal who ordered the issuance of the letter beforehand," Victor said.

KPK investigators have questioned Hari as a witness in the graft case.

Victor demanded the KPK summon the Minister of Disadvantaged Areas, Lukman Edi, who was a member of the Riau legislature approving the purchase.

"He (Lukman) was a member of the committee responsible for arranging the budget to buy the fire engines," Victor said.

In response to Victor's complaints, KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said the anticorruption body had examined Hari's appointment letter.

"We will summon Hari Sabarno again to explain about that letter," he said.

The KPK is investigating other mark-up cases in other regional administrations, including Medan and East Kalimantan.

So far, former Makassar mayor Amiruddin Maula has been sentenced to five years in prison for the fire engines mark-up. The KPK has also detained current Medan Mayor Abdillah and his deputy, Ramli Lubis, as well as East Kalimantan procurement chief, Ismed Rusdiany, on similar charges.

KPK is also hunting down Daud, who is believed to have fled the country. (ewd)

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