Police, AGO to target KPK’s second in command

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 07/09/2009 8:22 AM  |  National

The police will likely name another top Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) official as a suspect in the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen after detaining suspended chief of the antigraft body, Antasari Azhar.

Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes Abdul Hakim Ritonga has said that the police had held several talks with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) about the investigation into the alleged misuse of the KPK’s authority to wiretap Nasruddin and his wife, Rhani Juliani, prior to the murder.

The letter authorizing the wiretapping of the couple was signed by KPK deputy chief Chandra
Hamzah.

“There will be a new investigation conducted by the police to find out whether or not there was any abuse of authority in this case,” Ritonga said.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji hinted that Chandra would also likely be charged for “hiding murder information”, with the possibility that Chandra allegedly knew that Antasari was involved in the murder, but did not provide the information to the police.

When asked about Chandra’s role in the murder, Susno said, “If he knew the information about the murder, he was supposed to tell us. He wiretapped somebody who suddenly got killed. My question is, did he know about the murder?”   

However, a source close to the investigation confirmed that police efforts to implicate Chandra were linked to a taped conversation in which Susno asked for US$18 million in bribes in a case involving Bank Centrury-Antaboga, which caused Rp 1.4 trillion ($140 million) in losses to bank customers.

The police have been investigating the case since last year. They have named suspects but released key actors without clear reasons, prompting allegations they were bribed by the suspects.

Another source said that after receiving information about the alleged bribery in August last year, the KPK began investigating, wiretapping several phones suspected of being used to discuss the illicit transactions.

The voice of Susno Duadji was said to have been recorded asking for a US$18 million bribe in late 2008.

“The KPK was wiretapping other numbers, but suddenly a conversation with him [Susno] was caught,” the source said.

Susno has denied the accusation, saying, “I knew that I was being wiretapped, that is why I spoke recklessly, asking for money and gold to make the one who wiretapped me jealous.”

According to the source, Chandra met with National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri in April, a month after businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen was shot dead in Tangerang, Banten, on March 14.

Rumours circulated that, at the meeting, Chandra was “lobbying” Bambang to “negotiate” to save then KPK chief Antasari Azhar.

The police, however, “protested” the KPK’s use of wiretapping and refused Chandra’s request.
On May 3, several weeks after the meeting, the Jakarta Police arrested Antasari and charged him with orchestrating the murder of Nasruddin, director of state pharmaceutical company PT. Putra Rajawali Banjaran.

On June 19, the Jakarta Police summoned Chandra for questioning in connection with the alleged abuse of the KPK’s authority to wiretap. He was suspected of taking responsibility for the KPK’s wiretaping of Nasruddin and his wife.

Chandra, however, said in press conference after the questioning that the KPK had not violated any law.

Antasari remains in police custody. (bbs)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.