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enior Golkar politician Agung Laksono finally appeared at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for questioning concerning graft linked to the construction of sports facilities for the upcoming National Games (PON) in Riau.

He was grilled for more than seven hours about his alleged role in requesting more funds to build the sports facilities.

“Agung was questioned about the issuance of a letter requesting more funds for the [construction of the] venue. It was sent through the coordinating people’s welfare minister,” KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said at a press conference on Friday.

The additional Rp 900 million funds, on top of the Rp 900 billion, were said to have been included in the revised Bylaw No.6/2012 on the budget for the Games’ venues. The request for additional funds came from the Youth and Sports Ministry and was addressed to the Finance Ministry.

Agung, who is also the coordinating people’s welfare minister, was reported to have been informed about the revision.

The Golkar politician denied that he knew anything about the request for additional funds mentioned in the revised bylaw. However, he admitted that he had held a meeting with Riau Governor Rusli Zaenal and officials from the Youth and Sports Ministry to discuss funding for the Games.

“There was no discussion about more funds for the event. What was discussed during the meeting was the realization of the budget,” he said.

The KPK has named six suspects in the case. They are Lukman Abbas, head of Riau’s youth and sports agency; Rahmat Syahputra, a staff member of construction firm PT Pembangunan Perumahan; Eka Dharma Putra, an official with Riau’s youth and sports agency; and three Riau legislative councilors -- M Faisal Aswan of Golkar, M Dunir of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Taufan Andoso Yakin of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Eka Dharma Putra’s and Rahmat Syahputra’s trials started at the Pekanbaru Corruption Court on June 27 and were guarded by dozens of armed Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police personnel.

Prosecutors have charged the pair with violating Article 5 of the 1999 Corruption Eradication Law for allegedly “bribing councillors to endorse a revision of Bylaw No.6/2012,” chief prosecutor, Risma Anshari, said while reading out the indictment.

The bylaw controls the budget for the construction of the PON venues. The indictment stated the councillors had asked for kickbacks in exchange for their endorsement.

Meanwhile, Agung was previously scheduled to be questioned on Tuesday, but he failed to heed the KPK summons. Agung explained that he did not appear because he had to attend the opening of the 10th Pesparawi [Church Choir Party] in Kendari.

He received a second summons on Thursday but again failed to appear.

“I have to make it clear that I didn’t intend to avoid the KPK summons,” he said. “I spared time to come on Thursday but I didn’t receive any confirmation from the KPK,” he added.

KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said that confirmation had not been necessary because the commission had allocated time based on Agung’s stated availability.

Agung arrived at the KPK headquarters at 8:40 a.m. and left at 4:40 p.m.

Besides Agung, the KPK also questioned Setya Novanto, the Golkar faction chairman at the House of Representatives.

“He was questioned as a witness in the PON Riau bribery case,” acting KPK spokesperson Priharsa Nugraha announced on Friday.

He said Setya was questioned in his capacity as a witness for a suspect in the case, Lukman Abbas.

He added that the KPK had also scheduled the questioning of Golkar politician and House Commission X member Kahar Muzakir in connection with the same case. (nad)