Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK) prosecutors are insisting on seeking a five-year jail term for businesswoman Artalyta Suryani, who they accused Friday of manipulating her alibi.
Artalyta is charged with bribing prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, who led an Attorney General's Office (AGO) team investigating the alleged misappropriation of Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) funds involving tycoons Sjamsul Nursalim and Anthony Salim.
Artalyta has admitted her close ties with Sjamsul, but insisted the money she gave Urip was a private loan for his car repair business. She presented Urip's proposal letter for the loan and several receipts to the Corruption Court judges.
KPK prosecutors, however, stated it was a manipulated alibi and collusion between Artalyta and Urip.
In Urip's trial session Thursday, the same team of prosecutors had revealed several recorded cellular telephone conversations between the two while in detention last month.
In a June 10, 2008, tapped conversation, a day before Urip was scheduled to testify in her trial, Artalyta told Urip to stick to the "private loan" defense because "the car repair shop excuse was logical".
On June 6, 2008, Artalyta had called an unidentified man and asked him to "make the thing Urip said to (make), (the thing) we have talked about".
The KPK arrested Urip on March 2, 2008, upon leaving Artalyta's house and found US$660,000 in cash in his car. The money was believed to be a bribe from Artalyta, who was detained several hours later.
Immediately after the arrests, Urip said the money came from his gemstone business. In his testimony during Artalyta's trial, however, he said the money was for a car repair business.
The anti-graft body has been closely watching and tapping communications between the two since early December last year.
The KPK did not find any discussion about a loan in 44 recorded telephone conversations that the defendant had with Urip.
Legislators criticized the police for giving Artalyta access to a cell phone inside the penitentiary, which is not permitted.
Ade Daud Nasution of the Crescent Star Party said the police were responsible for the scandal.
"There is clearly a systematic effort here from the police to protect Artalyta. I say if the KPK can search the House, they should also search the National Police headquarters," he said.
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