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Ex-lawmakers testify against colleagues Panda and Emir
Two former legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) admitted to having received traveler’s checks, but claimed they were not aware the money was a bribe, not campaign funds from donors as told by fellow lawmaker Panda Nababan
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wo former legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) admitted to having received traveler’s checks, but claimed they were not aware the money was a bribe, not campaign funds from donors as told by fellow lawmaker Panda Nababan.
The two, Williem M. Tutuarima and Sukardjo Hardjosoewirjo, testified before the Corruption Court on Monday during a hearing in which Dudhie Makmun Murod, a former lawmaker also from the PDI-P, was the defendant.
Prior to a vote to select the next Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor in June 2004, 18 of PDI-P’s members of the House’s Commission IX held two meetings, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) documents say.
During these meetings, Panda, a senior PDI-P politician, and House of Representatives PDI-P chairman Tjahjo Kumolo allegedly instructed all lawmakers to vote for Miranda S. Goeltom. Tjahjo has denied knowledge of the traveler’s checks.
Williem’s testimonies confirmed the meetings. “They told us if we didn’t choose Miranda we would get fired,” he said.
Sukardjo testified that Panda had given the checks to him at Panda’s office.
“There was also [PDI-P politician] Emir Moeis in the room,” Sukardjo said. Both Panda and Emir are still members of parliament.
The indictment against Dudhie says Panda received 37 traveler’s checks from Dudhie. He took 29 for himself and divided the remainder equally between Emir and Sukardjo.
Sukardjo said he had no idea the checks were linked to the election of Miranda.
“Panda told me the checks were to help with campaigns for the 2004 legislative elections,” he said.
Sukardjo said he had used the money to buy campaign banners and T-shirts.
He said as soon as he realized the money may have been obtained illegitimately he returned the Rp 200 million in cash to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Williem also said he had been told the checks were to fund election campaigns. He said he received the checks from Dudhie at Dudhie’s office. Dudhie, however, denied the claims.
Dudhie has been charged with accepting bribes connected to the election of Miranda Swaray Goeltom as the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor in June 2004.
Prosecutors suspected Dudhie received 205 traveler’s checks worth Rp 50 million (US$5,450) each, totaling Rp 9.8 billion.
Dudhie allegedly received the checks from Arie Malangjudo, a middleman for businesswoman Nunun Nurbaeti, the wife of former National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. (ret.) Adang Daradjatun.
Prosecutors say he then distributed the checks to 18 of the PDI-P’s other members on the House’s Commission on financial and banking affairs.
