Simalungun regent bribed me: KPUD official

A member of the Simalungun General Elections Commission (KPUD) has admitted that he accepted a check from regent-elect Jopinus Ramli Saragih ahead of last year’s regency election, but he never cashed it.

KPUD official Robert Ambarita said Jopinus gave him a Rp 50 million check (US$5,500) on June 13 last year in the hope that Ambarita would manipulate the results of the election to guarantee victory for Jopinus.

“The bribe was given on June 13, 2010, at Efarina Etaham Hospital in Berastagi,” Ambarita said in a press conference in Medan on Thursday.

Ambarita said Jopinus had handed him the check directly, and that he handed the check to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seven months later.

“I have filed the bribery case with the KPK and handed over the check two days ago,” he said.

When asked about his motivation for reporting the bribery, which took place more than a half year ago, Ambarita said he was committed to the fight against corruption.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the commission had questioned Ambarita over an alleged bribery case involving the Constitutional Court, and not in connection with the alleged Jopinus bribe.

“I don’t know the details of the inquiry, but it’s true that he has been queried by the KPK,” Johan said.

Asked whether the KPK would name Ambarita a suspect for accepting the bribe, Johan said this depended on whether the bribery was found to include extortion.

Jopinus denied bribing Amabarita.

“It’s not true that I gave him a check worth Rp 50 million,” Jopinus said over the phone on Thursday, adding that he wondered why the issue was being brought up now.