KPK wiretap shows funds went to minister, says lawyer

A telephone conversation wiretapped by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supports earlier allegations that Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar asked for a Rp 1.5 billion (US$175,000) bribe, lawyer Farhat Abbas says.

Last week, the KPK arrested Farhat's client, businesswoman Dharnawati, together with the secretary of the transmigration ministry's directorate general for the development of resettlement areas, I Nyoman Suisnata, and the directorate's head of planning and evaluation, Dadong Irberalawan.

"In the [wiretapped recording] the one asking [for the bribe] is Dadong Irbarelawan and I Nyoman Suisnaya, but on orders from Muhaimin. Fauzi, a staffer of Muhaimin, is also mentioned in the tapes. Hopefully, these recordings will strengthen the KPK's investigation of Muhaimin," Farhat said Thursday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Farhat added that his client had confirmed the legitimacy of the recordings in her witness statement.

During Dharnawati's arrest, the KPK also confiscated the alleged bribe money. Earlier, Farhat said his client had told him that Muhaimin told her he only wanted to borrow the money.

"The funds were for the minister's Idul Fitri," he said.