Today
Jakarta
- 28 °C
Other Publications
KPK 'careful' in dealing with House cases
Irawaty Wardany , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 09/29/2008 10:50 AM | National
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is being very careful in its handling of a series of corruption cases involving the conversion of a protected forest in South Sumatra's Tanjung Api Api, a legal expert has said.
According to the first indictment handed down, lawmaker Sarjan Tahir of the Democratic Party faces up to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a graft case implicating Al Amin Nur Nasution, a lawmaker from the United Development Party (PPP).
"Sarjan was indicted for having received a bribe along with several other members of the House of Representatives' Commission IV (overseeing forestry, agriculture and fisheries). So, the KPK is probably waiting for the court's verdict on Sarjan before taking other lawmakers to court," Romli Atmasasmita, a legal expert from the Bandung-based Padjadjaran University, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Sarjan, along with Yusuf Erwin Faishal of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Hilman Indra of the Democratic Pioneer Star, Azwar Chesputra and Fachri Andi Laluasa (both of the Golkar Party) and other members of the commission received Rp 5 billion (US$532,878) from businessmen in 2006 to accelerate the approval of converting protected forests at Pantai Air Telang in Banyuasin, KPK prosecutors said in their indictment.
Expert Romli said the KPK's decision to wait for a guilty verdict in Sarjan's case before proceeding with indictments for other lawmakers was most likely a deliberate and careful strategy.
"There's a possibility Sarjan will be found innocent by the court. If that's the case, there's no use in bringing his colleagues to court," Romli added.
Sarjan's trial might reveal more facts, which could corroborate the evidence of others' involvement in the case, he said.
"It will be a long process, but it's worth it to make the sure the fight against corruption succeeds."
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairman Tjahjo Kumolo said his faction had yet to determine what stance it would take toward members of the party implicated in the alleged bribery.
"We will presume the innocence of faction members allegedly involved in this case," Tjahjo said.
To date, Mindo Sianipar, Mardjono, I Made Urip and Djoemad Tjiptowardoyo, among others from PDI-P, have been declared witnesses by the KPK, he added.
"We will wait and see what action the KPK takes regarding them," he said.
Democratic Party faction chairman Syarief Hassan shared a similar view, saying his party would fully cooperate with the KPK.
"Before the case was brought to court, we questioned members who were implicated and clarified whether they really received money or not," Syarief said.
None of them admitted to having received the money, he added. "We trust our members, but if new evidence comes to light in court that confirms their involvement, we will let the KPK take action on them," he said.
