Legislator Abdul Hadi Djamal, who was named suspect in a bribery
case on Tuesday by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was dismissed from
the National Mandate Party (PAN) on Wednesday for having allegedly violated the
party's statutes.
During a press conference on Wednesday, PAN chairman Soetrisno Bachir said
the case was "not just a disaster, but a tsunami".
The KPK had arrested Abdul and Darmawati (an official of the Sea Transportation
Directorate of the Transportation Ministry) in Jakarta on Monday night after
Abdul was caught red-handed receiving an alleged bribe worth US$80,000 and Rp
54 million (around $5,000) from Darmawati.
Soetrisno said the incident was a hard blow to the party which was established
by reform activist Amien Rais.
Soetrisno was hoping PAN's decision to dismiss Abdul would help to regain the
party's chances in the coming elections.
The bribe was allegedly paid by businessman Hontjo Kurniawan, a commissioner of
PT Kurnia Jaya Wira Bakti, in relation to Transportation Ministry pier and sea
port construction projects in eastern Indonesia.
Soetrisno expected the anti-graft body would respect the principle of the
presumption of innocence, and recover Abdul's rights should he be found not
guilty in the case. (dre)
