Lawmaker points to Minister Paskah's involvement in graft case

Lawmaker Hamka Yandhu on trial for graft said in court Wednesday he had received stolen money from Bank Indonesia (BI) officials with the approval of Paskah Suzetta.

Paskah was then deputy chair of the House of Representatives Commission IX on financial oversight. He now serves as the State Minister for National Development Planning minister.

Defendant Hamka told the Corruption Court he had called Paskah before taking Rp 2 billion (US$ 160,000) in June 2003.

"Pak Paskah told me to come and take the money," he said, as quoted by kompas.com Wednesday.Hamka's payment was part of the Rp 31.5 billion used to bribe lawmakers to smooth the amendment process of the law governing the central bank.

Hamka said he and fellow lawmaker Anthony Zeidra Abidin received in all Rp 31.5 billion from top BI officials Rusli Simanjutak and Asnar Ashari in four disbursements; the latest took place in Dec. 2003.

During Wednesday's trial session, the panel of judges are hearing Hamka and Anthony's testimonies before handing down indictments. (ewd)