KPK grills businessman on health equipment graft

The anti-graft body has questioned businessman Bambang Rudijanto Tanoesoedibjo as part of its investigation into a corruption case centering on alleged mark-ups of a 2006 procurement of health equipment for bird-flu patients.

Bambang, the director of PT Prasasti Mitra, was questioned as a witness, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Johan Budi, said.

“He's been here since this morning,” Johan said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Bambang has missed two KPK summons on Feb. 25 and 28.

PT Prasasti Mitra cooperated with state-owned PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia in procuring the health equipment for mitigating bird-flu outbreaks, which occurred from 2005 to 2006.

Of the total Rp 98 billion (US$11.17 million) allocated for the procurement from the state budget, Rp 32 billion ($3.58 million) was allegedly lost to mark-ups.

The KPK named a former ministry official, Ratna Dewi Umar, as a suspect in May 2010.