Whistle-blower Condro feels guilty over deaths

Following the death of fellow bribery defendant Poltak Sitorus on Tuesday, Agus Condro, who first disclosed the bribery scandal linked to the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor’s election, said he was overcome with guilt.

"Of course it plays in my mind," he said. "What if its all because of me?"

Poltak, a former Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator, died in prison of a suspected heart attack only a day after appearing in court for a hearing.

In November of last year, another former PDI-P legislator, Jeffrey Tongas Lumban Batu, who had been questioned regarding the same case but had not been named a suspect, also died of a heart attack.

Condro said he was trying his best to not let the feeling of guilt affect him.

"I say to myself, to comfort myself, that it is down to fate. Death is in the hands of the Almighty," he said. (awd)