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Akil acted alone says MK justice
Contemplative: Constitutional Court justice Maria Farida waits at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) before being questioned about her alleged role in the bribery case involving former court chief justice Akil Mochtar
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span class="inline inline-center">Contemplative: Constitutional Court justice Maria Farida waits at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) before being questioned about her alleged role in the bribery case involving former court chief justice Akil Mochtar. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
A Constitutional Court (MK) justice said on Monday that disgraced former chief justice Akil Mochtar had acted alone when rigging election dispute cases handled by the court.
Justice Maria Farida said that Akil, in his capacity as chief justice, never told other justices what to do in their election disputes.
'He never gave us directives,' Maria told reporters after undergoing questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday.
Maria said that she had found no irregularities in the handling of the Lebak, Banten, local election dispute.
Akil stands accused of accepting Rp 1 billion (US$84,961) from Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, brother of Banten Govenor Ratu Atut Chosiyah to rule in favor of Lebak Deputy Regent Amir Hamzah, who had challenged the result of the Lebak election.
Akil had been named a suspect by the KPK in October for accepting cash from the regent of Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan, Hambit Bintih, and a Palangkaraya-based businessman identified as Cornelius Nalau.
He was consequently charged with bribery and money laundering. He is accused of laundering Rp 100 billion ' suspected kickbacks from his services advocating a number of local elections during his tenure as the court's chief justice.
On Monday, The KPK also questioned Muhtar Effendi, a suspected major player in the graft case, as a witness.
Muhtar, who the antigraft body described as a 'gatekeeper', who alledgedly controlled Akil's graft scheme, acknowledged that Akil financed his businesses.
Speaking after being questioned, Muhtar claimed he was running a number of businesses including a car dealership, campaign paraphernalia supplier as well as a political campaign consultant firm for local elections.
'As a businessman I deal with many investors, who inject capital into my businesses, including Pak Akil. We don't know where the money from our investors comes from and it is impossible to ask,' Muhtar told reporters.
Muhtar declined to disclose how much Akil had invested in his company.
Some of the witnesses in Akil's graft case claimed that Muhtar had served as a middleman for Akil and had demanded 'fees' from local politicians in exchange for favorable rulings.
Muhtar is thought to have handled the 'territory' of South Sumatra.
KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto also said that Muhtar had been active in helping to launder Akil's ill gotten gains. Muhtar denied he was a political operative.
'Let me stress one thing, I have been accused of being a 'operator' who handled bribe payments in Sumatra. [But] if anyone can prove Muhtar Effendi of being embroiled in bribery at the court, I will give out Rp 1 billion,' Muhtar said.
The documents, related to past local elections, the KPK seized from one of Akil properties in Cibinong, Bogor Regency, Muhtar said: 'Yes, it is true. They were recapitulation forms called C1 form. [It is normal to keep such forms] because I am a political campaign consultant.'
He said he had known Akil since 2007, when Akil had contested the West Kalimantan gubernatorial ticket. 'He ordered campaign paraphernalia from me,' he said.
