PDI-P lawmaker denies involvement in scandal

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 04/14/2009 2:12 PM  |  National

A lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has denied involvement in a bribery scandal related to a ministerial project, in which former legislator Abdul Hadi Djamal from the National Mandatate Party (PAN) has been named a suspect.

Emir Moeis, head of the House of Representatives' budgetary committee, claims he never attended a meeting between government and committee members to discuss the fiscal stimulus package at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jakarta in February.

Abdul has testified that the meeting was designed to increase budget funding for certain government offices, including the Transportation Ministry.

Abdul was caught red-handed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in February receiving an alleged bribe of US$90,000 and Rp 54 million from Transportation Ministry official Darmawati Dareho, who has also been declared a suspect and detained.

"I don't know what the meeting was about because I did not attend it and was not invited to attend it," Emir told reporters upon arriving at the KPK for questioning Tuesday morning.

"The meeting was not coordinated by the committee," he said.

Abdul told the KPK that the money he received from the ministry was compensation for his role in persuading the government to increase financing for the ministry. He also claimed that another lawmaker, Jhonny Allen Marbun from the Democratic Party, received a kickback of Rp 1 billion (around U$88,000) for a similar reason.

The money was allegedly provided by businessman Hontjo Kurniawan, another suspect in the case, to ensure his company PT Kurnia Jaya Wirabhakti won a contract for the ministry's development project of piers and airport facilities in eastern Indonesia.

The project was part of a Rp 10.2 trillion fiscal stimulus package from the government, which was later increased to Rp 12.2 trillion following an agreement between the government and the budgetary committee at the House, of which both Abdul and Jhonny were members.

Emir has denied any knowledge of changes to the program. (dre)

 

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