Lawmakers received money from BI graft suspect

Eny Wulandari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 11/12/2008 7:16 PM  |  National

Lawmakers Emir Moeis and William Tutuarima, both of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), told a court today they received money from a Bank Indonesia graft defendant, the former lawmaker Hamka Yandhu.

However, they also told the Corruption Court they did not know whether the money came from the Rp 100 billion (US$9.3 million) of embezzled BI funds, and denied receiving Rp 250 million each, as Hamka had testified previously.

"I received US$2,500 (about Rp 26 million now) from him in May 2004. He said it was for me to go traveling during my campaign. He also gave me Rp 75 million in around June or August 2004," Emir told the court.

Hamka's lawyers then told the court Emir had said, during questioning by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), he had received more than Rp 200 million from Hamka, but Emir denied the claim.

"As far as I remember, I only received US$2,500 and Rp 75 million," Emir said.

In his testimony, William said he had borrowed Rp 50 million from Hamka to repair his house, but did not know whether the money was embezzled BI funds.

The KPK is accusing Hamka and another former lawmaker, Antony Zeidra Abidin, of disbursing money (embezzled by BI governors, deputy governors and top officials in 2003) to members of the then House Commission IX to gain support in BI liquidity support (BLBI) corruption cases and an amendment of the BI law.

Hamka had admitted he and Antony distributed the money to more than 50 members of the commission who had received at least Rp 250 million each. (dre)
 

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