A bribery allegation in which a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chief has been implicated is heating up the row between the commission's suspended chief, Antasari Azhar, and its current leadership.
In handwritten notes, reportedly Antasari's testimony, detailing the alleged bribery, the murder suspect tells of an anonymous letter that says one of his then deputies had received a bribe from Anggoro Widjojo, a KPK graft suspect.
Speculation is rife that Antasari is referring to M. Jasin.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Chrysnanda Dwi Laksana confirmed Wednesday Antasari had filed a report on the alleged bribery.
"The case will be handled by the National Police," he said, declining to elaborate.
Anggoro, director of PT Masaro Radiokom, was reported to have fled to Singapore after being named a suspect in a graft case centered on a Rp 180 billion (US$18 million) procurement project for the Forestry Ministry.
In his testimony, Antasari said he flew to Singapore in October last year to confirm with Anggoro the bribery allegation involving his deputy, and claimed to have taped the businessman's admission to having bribed KPK officials.
In response to the revelations, KPK deputy chairman Bibit Samad Riyanto accused Antasari of joining in the smear campaign to undermine the commission.
"Let's suppose it's true that Antasari had been informed of alleged bribery involving his deputy at the time," Bibit said.
"In which case he should have discussed it with us rather than jet off to Singapore without our knowledge. What kind of leader does that make him?"
He added the KPK had formed a special team to investigate the allegations being raised.
"Besides, if Anggoro had paid off a high-ranking KPK official, why would the commission still be investigating him?" he said.
"These allegations are ridiculous and completely illogical."
KPK spokesman Johan Budi S.P. said the commission was cooperating with Interpol to get Anggoro extradited from Singapore.
A source said National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji had sent several officers to meet with the fugitive.
"Their job is to dig deeper into the bribery claims, because taped testimony is not enough," the source told The Jakarta Post.
Another source said Susno was enraged with the KPK after they wiretapped him asking for a US$18 million bribe in connection with the Bank Century-Antaboga scandal.
Antasari's lawyers, Mohammad Assegaf and Ari Yusuf Amir, said they had no idea of the contentious handwritten testimony. Another of Antasari's lawyers, however, Juniver Girsang, confirmed his client had written the testimony.
None of the lawyers would comment when asked by the Post if the defense team had had a falling out.
Speculation is rife that some of the lawyers are reluctant to let the murder case be manipulated to engineer the KPK's downfall.
"My client has been charged with murder and my job is to prove he didn't kill anyone, that's all," Ari said.
Antasari has been accused of masterminding the drive-by shooting of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, director of PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran. (bbs)
