Ex-lawmaker quizzed in new BI scandal

Tue, 09/23/2008 10:01 AM | National

JAKARTA: Dismissed legislator Agus Condro has said seven out of 41 legislators who allegedly received traveler's checks following the 2004 election of Bank Indonesia deputy senior governor Miranda S. Goeltom cashed in the checks themselves.

"Seven of them cashed in the checks using their own names, while 10 had family members cash them, with the rest using other people's names," Agus said Monday after being questioned for the first time by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Agus, who was recently dismissed as an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator, is considered a whistle-blower of alleged money politics behind the election of Miranda.

He earlier admitted he and several other PDI-P legislators received Rp 500 million (US$54.500) each soon after the election by the House of Representatives' Commission IX for financial affairs.

Agus said KPK officials showed him copies of the checks, including those cashed in by William Tutharima, Suratal and Soewarno -- all former members of Commission IX.