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Another lawmaker arrested for 'taking bribes'
The recent arrests of several high-profile legislators by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for taking bribes have apparently failed to deter others from committing similar crimes
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The recent arrests of several high-profile legislators by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for taking bribes have apparently failed to deter others from committing similar crimes.
A member of the House of Representatives with the transportation commission was caught red handed by the KPK on Monday night allegedly accepting bribes.
“We arrested a member of a state institution identified as AHD at 10.30 p.m. last [Monday] night in the Jl. Sudirman-Casablanca area. We found US$90,000 and Rp 54 million (US$4,463) in his possession,” KPK chairman Antasari Ashar told a news conference Tuesday.
A source at the commission identified AHD as Abdul Hadi Djamal, a legislator from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and a member of the House's Commission V for transportation and housing affairs.
Antasari said the commission also arrested a government official, DHD, and businessman HK at an apartment in West Jakarta in relation to the same case.
DHD was later identified as Darmawati Dahore, a Transportation Ministry official, and HK as Hontjo Kurniawan, a commissioner with PT Kurnia Wira Jaya Bakti.
“We suspect the handover of the money is related to the development of seaport and airport facilities in Eastern Indonesia worth around Rp 100 billion,” Antasari said.
He said the KPK would charge the three suspects with violating Article 5 and 11 of the anticorruption law on gratuities and Article 12(a) and 12(b) on bribery, which all carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors were carrying out an intense investigation and questioning the suspects, he added.
The source said Abdul had admitted receiving Rp 1 billion on Feb. 27 in relation to the case, while Honjto admitted to giving Rp 2 billion to Abdul in two payments through Darmawati.
The money, the source said, was paid to ensure the businessman won the contract for the project. Hontjo also admitted paying Darmawati Rp 600 million.
The arrest of Abdul Hadi comes as lawmakers struggle to finance their campaigns for reelection in the April 9 legislative polls.
"Maybe he was under pressure to collect money for his political campaign," Adnan Topan Husodo, from Indonesia Corruption Watch, said to Viva News portal. Abdul had been contesting for a legislative seat in an electoral district in South Sulawesi.
Previously, the KPK also arrested Commission V member Bulyan Royan from the Reform Star Party shortly after he withdrew $66,000 and 5,500 euros at a mall in Jakarta.
The money was transferred from the bank account of businessman Dedy Suwarsono from PT Bina Mina Perkasa. The alleged bribe was the 7 percent fee requested by Bulyan as a requirement for Dedy to win a contract to supply 20 patrol vessels for the transportation ministry in 2008.
Dedy was convicted last year and sentenced to four years' imprisonment.
The KPK has also uncovered other bribery scandals involving lawmakers including Al Amien Nur Nasution from the United Development Party, Sarjan Tahir from the Democratic Party and Yusuf Erwin Faishal from the National Awakening Party.
