Dozens of legislators received bribes in connection with Miranda Goeltom's 2004 election as Bank Indonesia's senior deputy governor, a whistle-blower revealed Wednesday
ozens of legislators received bribes in connection with Miranda Goeltom's 2004 election as Bank Indonesia's senior deputy governor, a whistle-blower revealed Wednesday.
Former legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Agus Tjondro Prayitno, said that almost all members of the PDI-P faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) received money in return for voting for Miranda in 2004.
"At the time there were 18 envelopes consisting of 10 traveler's checks distributed by Pak Dudhie *Makmun Murod* to PDI-P legislators," Agus told The Jakarta Post.
Agus admitted to the KPK and the Corruption Court that he received Rp 500 million (US$49,900) in traveler's checks a few days after the House elected Miranda as the central bank's senior deputy governor.
Miranda was elected after 41 out of 54 members of commission IX, overseeing financial and banking issues at the House, voted for her. Almost all of the PDI-P's 17 commission members, 15 Golkar legislators and several others legislators from other factions voted for Miranda.
Dudhie was one of four suspects declared by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Tuesday for allegedly receiving bribes.
The other suspects include, Udju Djuhaeri from the Indonesian Military faction, Endin A.J. Soefihara from the United Development Party (PPP) and Hamka Yandhu from Golkar.
"They may have been declared as the first suspects because of their role in distributing the traveler's checks to colleagues within their parties," said Agus.
Prior to the election, Agus said the PDI-P faction members had gathered at the PDI-P's commission IX working committee room on the eighth floor of the DPR.
"We were instructed to vote for Miranda, and Pak Tjahjo Kumolo *the PDI-P's faction head*, we were told that if we voted for her, she *Miranda* would provide us with Rp 300 million each, and would even consider paying us Rp 500 million," Agus said.
A few days after the election, Agus said he was invited to the office of PDI-P legislator, Emir Moeis. At that meeting, several of his colleagues, including Dudhie Makmun Murod, Wiliam Tutuarima, Muhammad Iqbal and Budi Ningsih, were also at the office.
"Dudhie then handed over an envelope consisting of 10 traveler's checks to each of us."
He said he later found out there were more legislators that had received the cheques, including Suwarno, Rusman Luman Toruan, Sutanto Pranoto, Ni Luh Ariani Delta Sari, Angelina Patiansina, Matheos Formes and Sukardjo Hardjosoewirjo.
"But Pak Sukardjo gave the cheques he received to the PDI-P faction," Agus said.
A senior legislator from the PDI-P, Trimedya Pandjaitan, said he supported the KPK investigation. "Let the legal process continue. I don't want to complain or protest. As long as there is sufficient evidence to name suspects then it's fine by me," he told the Post.
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