Ex-governor linked to graft scandal

The Corruption Court heard Friday the details of an alleged plot concocted by South Sumatra administration officials and bribery suspect Chandra Antonio Tan for them to escape justice in a graft scam.

Witnesses told the court that the scheme had been drawn up after legislator Sarjan Tahir had been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly taking a Rp 5 billion (US$449,034) bribe from businessman Chandra in relation to a forest conversion project in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.  

"After Sarjan [Tahir] was caught there was a meeting at South Sumatra's representative office in Jalan Wijaya, South Jakarta, and I was told by Chandra Antonio Tan's lawyers to admit that the Rp 5 billion was my loan to Chandra with a 5 percent interest," Tanjung Api Api Seaports Management Agency head Sofyan Rebuin said.  

He was testifying during the trial of legislator Yusuf Erwin Faishal, who is also a suspect in the case which centers on the conversion of 600 hectares of protected forests in Pantai Air Telang, Banyuasin.  

The South Sumatra adminis-tration planned to build five seaports on the converted land to ease the burden on Tanjung Api-Api seaport which was deemed inadequate to support economic activities in the region.  

A similar testimony was made by current South Sumatra Secretary Musrif Suardi, who said the meeting had been arranged by former South Sumatra governor Syahrial Oesman.  

"The meeting was attended by Sofyan, Chandra, lawyers for the local administration, forestry agency head Pak Dodi, myself and Pak governor," Musrif told the court.  

He said the governor had asked those in attendance whether they had been questioned by the KPK about the bribery case.  

"At that time I noticed Pak Sofyan and Pak Chandra have what seemed to be an argument about something. I heard they were talking about debt," Musrif said, adding that Chandra had apparently told Sofyan to admit the Rp 5 billion had come from Chandra as a loan.  

Chandra confirmed the meeting had taken place in June 2008 at the South Sumatra representatives office in Jalan Wijaya.  

He said that he questioned Sofyan, who is also a former South Sumatra secretary, about his statement that he had wanted to ask Chandra for money.  

"He did say he wanted to lend the money and his statement was backed by the governor who said they could only lend Rp 5 billion to Chandra for the House of Representatives," Chandra said quoting Syahrial's words during the meeting.  

Sofyan said the money had been disbursed for legislators in response to Sarjan's advice that legislators would demand an "operational cost" to ensure the House approved the forest conversion project.  

Sofyan said he had reported the request to then governor Syahrial who later ordered Chandra, whose company PT Chandratex Indo Artha was involved in developing a 72 kilometer-long road serving the planned seaports, to provide the money.  

Sofyan said the Rp 5 billion was disbursed to members of House Commission IV overseeing forestry and agriculture issues in two installments -- the first made in October 2006 and the second in June 2007.  

After the money was distributed, the House issued a recommendation for the Forestry Ministry to approve the project in August 2007, he added.