Observers say the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been biased in its handling of a bribery scandal at the House of Representatives.
The KPK has named four former lawmakers as suspects for allegedly receiving bribes for the 2004 election of Miranda S. Goeltom to Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor, while testimonies have revealed that the money also went to another 37 legislators, then members of House’s Commission IX on banking and finance.
The suspects are Endin Akhmad Jalaluddin Soefihara of the United Development Party (PPP), Dudhie Makmun Murod of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Hamka Yandhu of Golkar and Udju Djuhaeri from the military faction.
The four, in documents obtained by The Jakarta Post, have admitted the bribes were gratuities for voting for Miranda. The KPK, however, has not yet named who they suspect gave the money, let alone the mastermind.
The indictment of the defendant Dudhie, for example, revealed at least two alleged bribers, Arie Malangjudo and his former business colleague Nunun Nurbaeti. Arie has faced four questioning sessions at the KPK and Nunun one.
A legal researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Febri Diansyah, said the KPK was “biased” in the investigation.
“It’s strange that, in a bribery case, the receivers are named suspects with nobody being named the alleged bribers,” he told the Post.
Febri said the KPK was showing signs of decline.
“I suspect that some corruptors within the commission are influencing investigations,” he said, refusing to name names.
A KPK official requesting anonymity told the Post that certain “star” investigators had protected Nunun and Arie from being named suspects.
“A number of the KPK’s top officials were involved in a fierce debate over the matter,” the source said.
Investigators in the KPK are mostly recruited from the police, while Nunun is the wife of Comr. Gen. (ret.) Adang Daradjatun, a former National Police deputy chief.
Febri suspected that investigators had been reluctant to probe Nunun due to her husband’s former position.
In defense of the KPK, the commission’s spokesman Johan Budi said the KPK would study material evidence and testimonies revealed during the trials.
“If we get convincing evidence in the trials naming new suspects, we will surely [lay charges],” he said.
A legal expert from the University of Indonesia (UI), Rudy Satrio, backed Johan’s statement, saying that the public should be patient.
Endin’s lawyer, Soleh Amin, said he had learned the KPK actually had more than enough evidence to name both Arie and Nunun as suspects. “[There is] no need to wait for more evidence from the trials,” he said.
A copy of Arie’s dossier obtained by the Post revealed that he had handed over the money on Nunun’s orders.
In June 2004, several days before the election of central bank’s senior deputy governor, Nunun called
Arie to meet her at her office. Arie found that Nunun was with Hamka Yandhu.
“I want you to hand over gratuity money for legislators,” Nunun told Arie, according to the dossier.
“Why me?” Arie replied. “You want my office boy to do it? They’re members of parliaments!” Nunun said, after which Arie followed the order.
A few hours after Miranda won the vote, Arie handed over four envelopes containing Rp 50 million (US$5,000) traveler’s cheques to each of the legislators.
