Witness says he helped lawmaker

JAKARTA: Witness Bambang Dwi Hartono admitted he helped lawmaker Al Amin Nasution distribute money to businessmen bidding in a tender to procure a global positioning system for the Forestry Ministry in 2007.

During Friday's trial at the Corruption Court, Bambang said he had brought money from PT Almega Geosystem and Data Script to Al Amin's house and office in January 2008.

"Initially, I gave Rp 1 billion (US$90,910) from Almega and Rp 10 million from Data Script to Al Amin in his office at the House of Representatives Commission IV (overseeing forestry, agriculture and maritime)," he said.

"I also handed over the remaining fund: Rp 200 million from Almega and Rp 100 million from Data Script at Al Amin's official house in Kalibata, South Jakarta," he added.

During the trial, state prosecutors presented taped phone conversations between Bambang and Al Amin as evidence.

The recordings confirmed that Amin had wanted both companies to hand over large amounts of money. Amin, however, denied having had the conversation. -- JP