Regent allegedly ‘extorted’ Hartati
The Jakarta Post | National | Tue, July 31 2012, 8:57 AM
Paper Edition | Page: 8
JAKARTA: A lawyer for Democratic Party politician Hartati Murdaya claimed that Buol Regent Amran Batalipu extorted the businesswoman.
One of Hartati’s lawyers, Patra M. Zen, said that his client could not be accused of bribing Amran as she was coerced into giving the money.
“She gave the money because she was forced to,” Patra said as quoted by kompas.com.
On Monday, Hartati once again had to undergo questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission in a bribery scandal that involved Amran.
Hartati was accused of bribing Amran to expedite the issuance of a business licence for her company, Hardaya Inti Plantations.
Lawyers for Amran said that their client accepted Rp 2 billion (US$212,246), a campaign donation, for his reelection bid.
