Muhaimin denied bribes paid for his Idul Fitri bonus

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar denied accusation prompted by a lawyer of Dharnawati, a businesswoman recently nabbed by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators over bribery charges.

“I never received such money as Idul Fitri bonus,” Muhaimin told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Friday.

“First and foremost, I never communicated with or even meet her [the businesswoman].”

Farhat Abbas, Dharnawati’s lawyer earlier stated that the Rp 1.5 billion bribe money was supposed to be channeled to Muhaimin.

“There had been two officials came to my client asking to lend money for Idul Fitri. I don’t know who ordered them or whether it was done with or without the minister’s knowledge, but they kept mention Muhaimin’s name,” Farhat said.

Dharnawati, he added, had finally agreed to funnel the money.

“Well, you know these officials… If it is for institution’s matter and not for personal benefit, why not?” he said.

On the contrary, Muhaimin said that his office never borrowed money for our employees’ Lebaran bonuses.

Last week, KPK nabbed Dharnawati, two manpower and transmigration ministry officials Nyoman Suisnaya and Dadong Irberelawan and confiscated Rp 1.5 billion of bribe money that they put in a cardboard box used to sell durian. KPK said that the money was given in order to smooth a project of infrastructure acceleration in a settlement area in Manokwari, West Papua.

The ministry this year allocated Rp 500 billion for the project to develop in infrastructure, including roads and bridges in resettlement areas in 19 regencies.