Court hears more politicians took bribes

The Corruption Court heard that 12 Golkar politicians and four from the United Development Party (PPP) received bribes of up to Rp 2.25 billion (US$246,000) during the 2004 election of central bank senior deputy governor Miranda S. Goeltom.

Two of the lawmakers who allegedly received bribes, Hamka Yandhu from Golkar and Endin A.J. Soefihara from the PPP, stood trial on Thursday.

In two different trials, prosecutors said Hamka and Endin received traveler’s checks worth Rp 7.35 billion and Rp 1.5 billion respectively to vote for Miranda.

The election was held by the House of Representatives’ Commission IX overseeing banking and financial issues, in which Hamka and Endin were both members.

Hamka and Endin allegedly received the checks from Arie Ma-langjudo, a middleman for businesswoman Nunun Nurbaeti, the wife of former National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. (ret.) Adang Daradjatun.

Prosecutors said Endin had given three lawmakers from the PPP their share of the traveler’s checks worth between Rp 250 million and Rp 500 million.“The remaining 10 sheets worth Rp 500 million went to Endin,” said prosecutor Sarjono Turin. Hamka, on the other hand, was accused of keeping 45 sheets of the checks he received to himself. The checks were each worth Rp 50 million. He then allegedly distributed the remaining checks to 11 Golkar commission members.Prosecutors suspected Hamka’s colleagues received traveler’s checks ranging from Rp 150 million to Rp 600 million.

Golkar legislator and chairman of Commission XI, Paskah Suzetta also allegedly received bribes worth Rp 600 million.
Paskah was the national development planning minister from 2004 to 2009.Paskah told his fellow Golkar legislators that Golkar legislators at the House had decided to back Miranda for the BI post.

Prosecutors also pointed their fingers at former legislator T.M. Nurlif, who is now a member of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). Nurlif allegedly received Rp 550 million. A former member of the BPK, Baharuddin Aritonang, was also accused of having received Rp 350 million.Both Hamka and Endin were charged under the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law, which carries a maximum jail term of five years.

The antigraft commission has so far named only four suspects in the bribery case, despite repeated testimonies from the suspects the bribes also flowed to other fellow lawmakers. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said it was also baffled as to why none of the alleged bribers had been named as suspects in the case.

Lawmakers who allegedly received bribes

Name                                  Amount (in million Rp)

PPP

Endin Soefihara                   500
Sofyan Usman                    250
Uray Faisal Hamid               250
Danial Tandjung                  500
 
Golkar

Hamka Yandhu YR             2,250
T.M. Nurlif                            550
Baharuddin Aritonang            350
Anthony Zeidra Abidin           600
Achmad Hafiz Zawawi            600
Bobby SH. Suhardiman          500
Reza Kamarullah                  500
H. Paskah Suzetta                600
Hengky Baramuli                  500
H. Asep Ruchimat Sudjana     150
Azhar Muklish (deceased)     500
Marthin Bria Seran               250

Source:  Indictments against Hamka Yandhu and Endin Soefihara at the Corruption Court