Former UI rector faces KPK questioning over graft allegations

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The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday summoned former University of Indonesia (UI) rector Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri in connection with a number of graft allegations leveled at him.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi confirmed that Gumilar was summoned to testify as a witness in a number of graft cases.

“We have been inquiring into some of these cases for the past three months,” he said, declining to give more details about Gumilar’s involvement.

Gumilar has been accused of overseeing a corrupt bureaucracy at UI, which tops the list of the country’s best universities.

In 2011, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) said that it had found instances of irregularities in the university’s budget management that may have caused state losses of nearly Rp 45 billion (US$4.95 million).

Nearing the end of his term, Gumilar controversially dismissed eight deans at the university in a move that many considered aimed at securing his reelection.

Gumilar said the terms of the nine deans had already expired.

It has been suggested that dismissals were Gumilar’s attempt to silence opposition within the UI faculty, which was clamoring for his dismissal for the alleged corruption on the campus.

Nine out of 12 deans at the university endorsed a motion of no-confidence in Gumilar, urging the Education and Culture Ministry to fire him.

In spite of the allegations, Gumilar has announced that he would run for a second term after his tenure ended in mid-August.

Member of the university’s anti-corruption group Clean UI (Bersih UI), Manneke Budiman, said that the group felt vindicated now that the KPK had eventually summoned the former rector.

“We filed a report to KPK three months ago. We were little bit upset that KPK had only summoned some UI officials so far. But we are happy now,” he said.

Manneke said that based on documents from the BPK, the financial report for Gumilar’s term had two irregularities in the procurement project for the central library and the construction of a hotel on a land in Cikini, Central Jakarta, owned by UI.

“We use the public information law and consulted the BPK, the KPK and Indonesia Corruption Watch [ICW] to gather enough evidence to prove our allegations,” he said.

Manneke also said that Gumilar had even gone as far as misusing fund to buy food for the university seminars and channel that to pay for food for his pet.

He said that the KPK’s move could serve as a warning for future UI rectors against abusing their
authorities.

Meanwhile, Gumilar said after the questioning that he came to the KPK building simply to report his wealth. (cor)