A former lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Dudhie Makmun Murod, was arrested by the antigraft body Thursday in connection with a bribery case involving the 2004 election of a central bank deputy governor.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) charged Dudhie with receiving bribe money pertaining to the election of Miranda Swaray Goeltom as the central bank deputy governor.

He was arrested after being questioned by the KPK. If proven guilty, he could serve five years in prison, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.

In his defense, Dudhie claimed he was just following order from top leaders of his party when he took the bribe.

“Pak Dudhie was ordered by PN [widely believed to be Panda Nababan] to fetch the money at Bebek Bali restaurant,” his lawyer, Amir Karyatin, said as quoted by Antara.

The money was reportedly taken to a person identified as EM, who has been referred to as Emir Moeis, to be distributed to party members.

Amir declined to confirm this speculation.

Amir said the meeting at the restaurant occurred soon after Miranda underwent a fit-and-proper test at the House of Representatives.

“All parties receiving [funds] should face the law,” he said.

Johan said his agency did not rule out the possibility of naming more suspects in the case.

Dudhie’s testimony is seen as a serious blow to the PDI-P, which has taken an oppositional stance against the ruling Democratic Party.

The KPK named Dudhie a graft suspect in June last year, along with three other lawmakers in the House finance commission: Hamka Yamdhu from the Golkar Party, Udju Juhaeri from the Indonesian Army/Police and Endin Soefihara from the United Development Party (PPP).

Endin and Udju were arrested on Tuesday, while Yamdhu is currently serving his term in jail for his role in another graft case.

The case began in 2008 when PDI-P politician Agus Condro made a public confession that he had received Rp 500 million (US$53,500) from the head of the PDI-P at the House for giving his support to Miranda.       

Agus claimed that his fellow lawmakers, including Emir and Panda, had also received funds.

The whistle-blower was later removed from the House for his controversial testimony.  

Emir denied any involvement in the case.

“No, [I did not receive the money]. Where would I hide it?” he told detik.com.  

He claimed he did not know anything about Dudhie’s allegation.

 “I did not know there was money involved,” he argued.

Emir was then the head of the House finance commission.

The PDI-P has prepared 10 lawyers to defend its cadre.

“[These lawyers] were hired for Pak Dudhie,” Trimedya Panjaitan was quoted as saying by Antara.

PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung said the party would not intervene in the ongoing investigation into the case by the KPK.

“We are not going to interfere.

“Pak Dudhie is ready to go through the whole legal process.

“There is nothing special about this,” he told reporters at the KPK office.

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