Billy inquired about a business monopoly case against Temasek Holdings that had nothing to do with Lippo Group, where Billy is a senior executive, he said

On Nov. 19, 2007, the KPPU ruled that Temasek had breached anti-monopoly laws, including a law on cross-ownership. The Central Jakarta District Court upheld the KPPU ruling.

Billy, a former president director of PT First Media, which is a subsidiary of Lippo Group, was caught in the act of giving KPPU member Muhammad Iqbal Rp 500 million (US$53,373) as an alleged bribe at a hotel in Central Jakarta on Sept. 16, 2008.

The money was allegedly given in compensation for the KPPU's decision to acquit PT Direct Vision, a subsidiary of PT First Media, of a monopoly charge over the right to air English Premier League soccer matches.

Tajuddin said Billy had contacted informants at the KPPU, including himself, to get information.

He said KPK investigators questioned him on Billy's relationship with Iqbal as well as with other KPPU members.

The KPK also questioned KPPU commissioner Benny Pasaribu in connection with the same case on Friday.

"I was questioned as a witness in connection with the case implicating Iqbal. There were 10 questions posed to me by KPK investigators," Benny said without elaborating.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said his office was investigating whether Iqbal had received other payments in addition to the Rp 500 million he received from Billy.

"We also want to know whether the gift was only shared between Billy and Iqbal," he said.

KPPU chairman Syamsul Maarif said Iqbal's arrest and the summons for more of its members would not affect the commission's activities.

"The KPPU will continue to fight monopololization. The case implicating Iqbal has instead encouraged us to continue working despite the problems we are facing now," Syamsul said.

Responding to public calls for all KPPU verdicts be reexamined, Syamsul said such requests should be taken to the court and could only be filed by those implicated and found to be guilty in the cases.

"Therefore, the case implicating Iqbal is a separate thing and it could never be used as a reason to reexamine our past verdicts," Syamsul said, adding that it was absurd to use the case to bring into question the existence of the KPPU.

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