KPK questions Kaban in BI bribery case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is questioning former forestry minister Malam Sabat Kaban on Tuesday in connection with alleged bribery in the 2004 election of the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Kaban was being questioned as a witness in the case in which House of Representatives legislators allegedly accepted bribes to vote for Miranda Swaray Goeltom as the BI senior deputy governor.

The case came to light when former Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator Agus Tjondro confessed to receiving Rp 500 million (US$52,500) in traveler's checks from PDI-P colleague Emir Moeis following the House’s nod for Miranda.

Agus said each legislator was promised between Rp 300 million and Rp 500 million to vote for her. Miranda was elected by 41 of the 54 members of House Commission IX, which oversaw banking and finance at that time.

The 41 included almost all 17 PDI-P legislators and 15 Golkar legislators.

The Financial Transaction Report Analysis Center (PPATK) at the time linked 480 traveler's checks to the election, but only 10 were cashed in by legislators in person.

The KPK has named Golkar's Hamka Yandhu, the PDI-P's Dudhie Makmun Murod and the Supreme Audit Agency's (BPK) Udju Juhaeri as suspects in the case.