Agus Condro removed from House, honorary council drops plan to question him

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 09/05/2008 11:04 AM  |  National

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has officially removed whistle-blower Agus Condro from the House of Representatives, prompting the House's Honorary Council to drop its plan to question him, Tempointeraktif.com reported Friday.

The Honorary Council's deputy chairman Gayus Lumbun said that the council was very interested in unveiling the possible bribery practices during the election of Miranda Gultom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor by the House of Representatives.

"We can only question active lawmakers, not a person who is not a member of the House anymore," Gayus told Tempointeraktif.com.

"We are very interested (in questioning him). But the person is already removed from the House by his own party," Gayus said.

PDI-P has also removed Agus Condro from its list of candidates for next year’s legislative election.

Agus Condro surprised the public recently after admitting that he received Rp 500 million (US$54,500) soon after the election of Miranda Gultom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor.

He said that he later used the money to buy two new cars.

Agus had said that he was not the only lawmaker to receive money for voting for Miranda. He said fellow House Commission IX, which oversees financial affairs, and PDI-P members William Tutuarima, Budiningsih, Mateus Formes and Muhammad Iqbal also received bribes.

He said they were paid the same amount by PDI-P member Dudhie Makmun Murod at the office of Commission IX chief Emir Moeis, also of the PDI-P, the party chaired by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Names mentioned by Agus all denied the allegation. (rid)

 

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