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nce again, a graft case has implicated dangdut singers after the bribery scandal centering on the government'€™s beef importation program dragged several dangdut singers in.

Recently, three dangdut singers reportedly received money from former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar, now detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on graft and money laundering charges.

One of the dangdut singers in question, Rya Fitria, was the first to come into spotlight for allegedly receiving up to Rp 900 million (US$79,200) during a five year span.

Later, Akil'€™s lawyer, Tamsil Sjoekoer, revealed that there were two other dangdut singers who received money from his client, Evie Tamala and Iis Dahlia. '€œHe [Akil] mentioned three names,'€ he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

According to Tamsil, his client paid the three dangdut singers to sing during his campaign at the 2007 West Kalimantan gubernatorial election. '€œEach of them had different rates,'€ he said. '€œIis Dahlia was more expensive.'€

In response to the case, Iis said that she was only getting paid by Akil for the singing gigs and nothing else. '€œWhat'€™s this? I was accused of getting illicit money from Akil? That'€™s not true,'€ she said as quoted by tempo.co on Wednesday. '€œSinging is my profession; I did not receive money just like that [for nothing].'€

She admitted that she charged a rate of Rp 30 million to Rp 40 million for one gig. '€œFrom what I remember, I sang [for Akil'€™s campaign] in three or four events,'€ said Iis.

Looking back at the experience, she said that she had learned to be more careful in taking offers.

The revelation that Akil had paid three dangdut singers prompted the rumors that he had a special relationship with at least one of them, especially after he allegedly provided Rya'€™s living needs for five years.

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the KPK reportedly had evidence of several Rp 8-10 million transfers to Rya'€™s bank account up to a total of Rp 900 million.

Tamsil refuted the rumors. '€œThere are no special relationships [between Akil and the three singers]. Just professional [ones],'€ he said.

Tamsil added that his client had also declined the allegation that he paid a total sum of Rp 900 million to Rya.

Rya, meanwhile, had admitted that Akil had asked her to perform at his campaign when he was running in the 2007 West Kalimantan gubernatorial election, which led to a further 16 shows. Akil, however, lost the election and in 2008, joined the Constitutional Court (MK).

Tamsil said that Akil still often hired Rya at events, even during his tenure as an MK justice. '€œThey first knew each other in 2007 and when Akil'€™s friends wanted to hold events, Pak Akil recommended them [to hire Rya]. And pak Akil [usually] paid [Rya for the gigs as a treat to his friends],'€ he said.

This is not the first time dangdut singers had been dragged into the graft case.

Graft convict Ahmad Fathanah apparently had a penchant for dangdut singers and married one and showered the others with houses, money, jewelry and cars.

For example, he built a luxurious house in Depok, West Java, worth Rp 5.8 billion for his third wife, Sefti Sanustika.

Sefti said that the house was built for her and her baby.

The house was seized by the KPK on the back of Fathanah'€™s money laundering charge.

Besides that, Tri Kurnia Rahayu Pristiwani, a close friend of Sefti who is also a dangdut singer, said that it was a habit of Fathanah'€™s to give her cash and buy her jewelry. Tri said that Fathanah once gave her $20,000 in cash to buy his daughter a car.

Fathanah also bought her jewelry and a Rp 120 million Rolex watch at local jewelry chain MB Jewelry.