SBY's party to assist lawmaker arrested for graft

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 05/04/2008 10:06 AM

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Sarjan Taher as a suspect in the case of alleged graft in the conversion of mangrove forest in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, into a seaport.

The KPK arrested Sarjan late Friday.

KPK deputy chairman for prevention Moch. Jasin said Saturday that Sarjan had allegedly accepted a bribe in relation to the forest conversion.

"He allegedly received money to smooth the way for the forest conversion," he said.

Sarjan, a lawmaker from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (DP), was detained for questioning.

His party confirmed his detention.

"There has not been a case like this before. This is the first case for us, but we know nothing" about it, Sutan Bhatoegana, secretary of the Democratic Party's faction in the parliament, said as quoted by Reuters.

Bhatoegana said the party would assist Sarjan, and was waiting for a permit to visit him in custody at a Jakarta police station to find out what had happened.

Also implicated in the case is Al Amin Nasution of the United Development Party (PPP).

Both are members of the House of Representatives Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry, fisheries and plantations.

Al Amin has already been arrested by the KPK for allegedly accepting a bribe from the Bintan administration with respect to the regency's request to convert a conservation forest into an office complex. (dre)

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