Standing trial at the Corruption Court on Wednesday, legislator Sarjan Tahir admitted he received Rp 5 billion to approve a project to convert a protected forest area in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, into a seaport.
In his defense plea at the court, he said the money was distributed to fellow House of Representatives members who had approved the forest conversion project.
“I cannot avoid it (receiving gifts) because my colleagues in the House are accustomed to receiving gifts and I cannot do anything to stop it,” he said.
He said he had told the South Sumatra administration that there was no need to provide “thank you gifts” to the involved legislators following the approval of their proposal to convert 600 hectares of a protected mangrove forest in Pantai Air Telang, Banyuasin, to make way for the planned Tanjung Api Api Seaport.
The administration insisted on the gift, he said.
“I did not have any power to prevent it because I was not even a commission head or anything,” said Sarjan, who is a member of the Democratic Party founded by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The administration is reported to have approached the House via Sarjan in order to speed up approval to convert the plot, offering the lawmaker Rp 2.5 billion as a reward for helping to see their request through.
However, after discussing the offer with fellow legislators — Yusuf Erwin Faishal, Hilman Indra, Azwar Chesputra and Fachri Andi Leluasa — Sarjan went back to Tanjung Api Api Seaport management head Sofyan Rebuin to demand the payment be increased to Rp 5 billion.
The Rp 5 billion was later paid in two installments. The first payment was made in October 2006 by Chandra Antonio Tan, an investor in the seaport project, who handed over Rp 2.5 billion in traveler’s cheques to Sarjan at his office at the House.
Of the amount, Sarjan’s share was Rp 150 million, Yusuf took Rp 275 million, Hilman Rp 175 million, Azwar Rp 325 million, Fachri Rp 175 million, and several other members received between Rp 25 million and Rp 170 million.
The second installment was made on June 2007 at a hotel in Jakarta. This time, Sarjan took Rp 200 million for himself, Yusuf received Rp 500 million, Hilman Rp 260 million, Azwar Rp 125 million, Fachri Rp 235 million. Several other legislators also took cuts of the money.
“About the second installment in 2007, it appears that I had an active role in asking for the money from the South Sumatra administration but it was because my colleagues asked me for the payment,” he said.
During the hearing, Sarjan’s wife was seen solemnly bobbing her head up and down, and at one point burst into tears.
Sarjan’s lawyer Nur Hasyim Ilyas demanded that all other lawmakers who had benefited from the money also stand trial.
Yusuf is currently being detained as a suspect in the case, all other legislators named in the case have not been summoned for questioning.
