TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Judicial body named in bribe case
Between Rp 7 billion (US$756,757) and Rp 10 billion was given to the Judicial Commission (KY) by a landowner who had been offering to sell land to the KY, an anti-corruption court heard Friday
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Between Rp 7 billion (US$756,757) and Rp 10 billion was given to the Judicial Commission (KY) by a landowner who had been offering to sell land to the KY, an anti-corruption court heard Friday.
Non-active KY commissioner Irawady Joenoes, defendant in a Rp 46 billion graft case, implicated KY insiders all the way to the secretary general level.
The KY, which functions to select high court judges and as a judiciary watchdog, purchased a plot of land on Jl. Kramat Raya in Central Jakarta from landowner and PT Persada Sembada director Freddy Santoso.
Irawady told the judges he (Irawady) was acting as an agent provocateur to expose in-process corruption when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested him.
On Sept. 27, 2007, the KPK apprehended Irawady at his brother-in-law's home on Jl. Panglima Polim, South Jakarta. Cash worth Rp 600 million was found inside the house and Irawady had US$30,000 on his person.
The KPK suspected Irawady of receiving a payoff from Freddy, who was arrested at the same location.
Irawady said the money in his possession at the time of the arrest was intended to expose the corruption.
He said he had intended to show the money to KY secretary general Muyazzin Mahbib and confront him about Freddy's bribery intentions.
"I couldn't tell anyone about the mission because I didn't want the whole thing to go public and ruin the commission's name," he added.
Irawady was the coordinator of the division at the KY responsible for monitoring judicial behavior and integrity.
Irawady said he had begun to suspect some commissioners of corruption when Freddy's name reappeared on a list of property being offered for sale to the KY despite the rejection of a previous offer from Freddy in a KY plenary session.
Irawady told the court his suspicions about Freddy had been confirmed when he met Freddy at Gran Mahakam Hotel, South Jakarta, on Aug. 25 last year.
"He (Freddy) told me he would give me money if the commission bought his land for a good price," he said, adding that he had agreed to meet Freddy in order to gain his trust.
Irawady said he had been in contact with three prosecutors at the Attorney General's Office to get help in exposing Freddy and the corruption.
"I believe the mission would have seen results if the KPK hadn't intervened."
Earlier at the same court, Freddy testified that Irawady had asked him for money to facilitate the land procurement deal.
Freddy claimed he initially rejected the request but later accepted it after Irawady called him repeatedly.
Muyazzin has consistently denied allegations of bribery to the commission.
"We have conducted everything according to official procedures... and as far as I know there have been no violations."
The trial will reconvene Feb. 22. (anw)
