Lawmakers admit role in BI graft case

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 04/07/2009 2:27 PM  |  National

Lawmakers Bobby Suhardiman and Amru Al Mutassin on Tuesday said they had received alleged bribe money amounting to Rp 300 million each from convict Hamka Yandhu, an amount that was part of Rp 31.5 billion disbursed by Bank Indonesia (BI) to amend a law on the central bank.

At today's court session, Bobby said he had received the money in several installments in 2003.

"In the beginning Pak Hamka did not tell me why he gave me the money. But later he said it was for disseminating information and funding public awareness campaigns for the amandement of the bank law," Bobby said.

Bobby claimed to have returned all the money to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2007, and said he had not used it for anything.

Amru Al Mutassin said he had received several envelopes from Hamka, containing a total of Rp 300 million.

"When I asked Pak Hamka what the money was for, he just told me to take it," Amru said in a testimony read out by prosecutor Rudi Margono.

Another lawmaker and chairman of House Commission IX for financial affairs, Emir Moeis, failed to attend the session as a witness for the defendants and former BI deputy governors Aulia Pohan, Aslim Tadjuddin, Bun Bunan Hutapea and Maman H. Soemantri.

All defendants are standing trial for their alleged involvement in a graft case tied to the central bank in which Rp 68.5 billion was paid to finance legal aid for the Indonesian Banking Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) misused funds case, and Rp 31.5 billion was apparently used to bribe legislators to pass an amendment to the BI law. (ewd)

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