Ex-ministers call Yusril's bluff in graft 'blame game'

Dian Kuswandini and Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 11/22/2008 12:54 PM  |  Headlines

Former justice and human rights ministers Hamid Awaluddin and Mahfud M.D. have denied any link to a corruption scandal at the ministry, dealing fellow ex-minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra a blow in the case.

Hamid, who was questioned about the case Friday at the Attorney General's Office, said he knew nothing about the ministry's online service project, which is at the heart of the scandal.

"The deal was made long before my period (in office), and I didn't know the money was internally distributed (among senior ministry officials)," he told the press after his questioning.

Hamid served as justice minister from October 2004 to May 2007, succeeding Yusril who is also implicated in the case.

Yusril, who was grilled for nine hours on Thursday, said the internal distribution of funds embezzled from the online service was devised after he had left the ministry.

At the time, he added, the justice minister was Mahfud M.D., currently the Constitutional Court chief.

But Mahfud, who was acting justice minister for three weeks from July 21, 2001, while serving as defense minister, dismissed Yusril's blame game.

"I never signed any letter approving the scheme during my tenure," Mahfud told a press conference at his office Friday.

He said he only issued one letter while serving at the justice ministry. The letter was about the replacement of the head of Jakarta's Cipinang Penitentiary, he added.

"That was the only letter I issued up until the end of my term on Aug. 14, 2001," he insisted.

Mahfud left the justice ministry and was replaced by Yusril who occupied the same ministerial post for the second time.

Mahfud said it was unlikely there was an approval letter concerning the scheme, which was reportedly signed by Yusril on Oct. 4, 2001.

"This may indicate the letter was a follow-up from previous letters signed by Yusril," Mahfud said, adding he was willing to be questioned by the AGO if summoned.

The scandal centers on a website, www.sisminbakum.com, run by the ministry's directorate general of public law administration.

The website had since 2001 allowed legal entities to register for permits and nominate notaries, with services ranging in price from Rp 250,000 to Rp 1 million.

The AGO says revenue from the website, amounting to Rp 9 billion per month, should have gone to state coffers as non-tax revenue.

Instead, the AGO alleges 90 percent went to private company PT Sarana Rekatama Dinamika (SRD), the system's provider, with the rest going to the directorate general. Of the latter's share, 40 percent went to its cooperatives and the remainder to senior officials.

This deal allowed directors general to receive an average of Rp 10 million per month and their secretaries around Rp 5 million, according to the AGO.

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