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PKS chief too busy to attend KPK probe

Busy, busy, busy: Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin (center, wearing a peci) attends an event in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday

Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, May 11, 2013

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PKS chief too busy to attend KPK probe Busy, busy, busy: Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin (center, wearing a peci) attends an event in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday. Hilmi skipped a summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to testify as a witness in the meat import scandal, citing an “appointment impossible to delegate”. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra) (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin (center, wearing a peci) attends an event in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday. Hilmi skipped a summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to testify as a witness in the meat import scandal, citing an “appointment impossible to delegate”. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)

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span class="inline inline-none">Busy, busy, busy: Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin (center, wearing a peci) attends an event in Padang, West Sumatra, on Friday. Hilmi skipped a summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to testify as a witness in the meat import scandal, citing an '€œappointment impossible to delegate'€. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)

The Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which prides itself as being an ostensibly antigraft party, continues to resist attempts by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate its top leaders.

PKS chief patron and paramount leader Hilmi Aminuddin, 67, refused to attend on Friday KPK questioning in connection with a graft case revolving around beef import licensing that implicated the party'€™s former chairman, Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

Hilmi'€™s lawyer, Zainuddin Paru, said that Hilmi could not meet the summons because he had to attend an event, that was scheduled long before the summoning on Friday.

'€œI don'€™t know what kind of event it is or whether it was related to the PKS or not,'€ he said after submitting a letter to the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta notifying the antigraft body of Hilmi'€™s absence.

Zainuddin denied that Hilmi was trying to avoid the probe, saying that Hilmi had requested that the KPK not interrupt his schedule on Friday as it was considered a '€œholy day'€.

PKS spokesman Mardani Ali Sera said that Hilmi could not attend the questioning as he had to attend a regular '€œFriday sermon'€.

Hilmi'€™s refusal to cooperate with the KPK added to a multitude of attempts by the party to undermine the investigation. The KPK, since Monday, has tried and failed to confiscate five luxurious cars parked at the party'€™s headquarters.

Attempts to seize the cars, which are believed to be evidence in the beef graft scandal, were met with resistance by the party'€™s security staff and supporters. The cars include a VW Carravelle, a Mazda CX9, a Toyota Fortuner, a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and a Nissan Navara.

It was later revealed that some of the cars were registered under the names of individuals related to Luthfi.

The VW Carravelle was registered to Ali Imron '€” Luthfi'€™s driver '€” while the Toyota Fortuner was registered to Ahmad Zaky '€” one of Luthfi'€™s personal assistants. The Nissan Navara had been purchased using the name Rantala Sikayo, Luthfi'€™s assistant at the House of Representatives.

Rantala, who was questioned by the KPK regarding the cars on Friday, said that a PKS member asked for his identity card (KTP) to purchase the car.

'€œI was called by someone, whose name I can no longer recall, to bring my ID card to the PKS headquarters,'€ he said, adding that the car was purchased last year.

The beef import scandal permeated into the very core of the party when the KPK dragged Hilmi'€™s fourth child, Ridwan Hakim, into the mix.

The questioning of Hilmi was related to Ridwan'€™s role in the scandal. Ridwan made headlines last month after he fled to Turkey a day before the KPK was due to issue him a travel ban.

The KPK alleged Ridwan had the role of broker in the scheme, which was overseen by Agriculture Ministry Suswono, a senior PKS politician.

KPK chairman Abraham Samad previously said Ridwan and Hilmi were believed to have known Ahmad Fathanah, the key suspect in the case and a close aide of Luthfi'€™s.

The KPK alleged Fathanah brokered the illicit money from beef importer PT Indoguna to PKS officials.

The KPK charged Luthfi and Fathanah with corruption and money laundering for their roles in the scandal, with the antigraft body confiscating assets from both suspects.

Both Luthfi and Fathanah are known to be in Hilmi'€™s inner-circle.

Hilmi played a vital role in directing the PKS'€™ political course, as a patron he is granted numerous authorities, including the selection of party officials.

Hilmi also decides the party'€™s stance regarding certain issues and selects the party'€™s candidate for president, ministers, state company executives, legislators, councilors and local administration leaders.

Such authority allowed him to install '€œfavorable'€ members, thus, preserving his leadership.

Although his contribution to the PKS was rooted long before the party was even established, Hilmi was a relatively unknown cleric before he took the helm of the PKS'€™ Majelis Syuro, or board of patrons, in 2005.

His name was not listed among the party'€™s 52 '€œofficial'€ founding fathers, who signed the party'€™s declaration of establishment on Aug. 9, 1998, as the then Justice Party (PK).

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