TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
KPK seizes dozens of buildings tied to Wawan
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed Sunday that more than 100 plots of land and buildings allegedly controlled by Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyahâs younger brother Tubagus Chaeri âWawanâ Wardana had been confiscated
Change Size
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed Sunday that more than 100 plots of land and buildings allegedly controlled by Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah's younger brother Tubagus Chaeri 'Wawan' Wardana had been confiscated.
'I have to check with investigators regarding the exact figure [but] I will release the information as soon as I hear from investigators,' KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Sunday.
He said that investigators were currently working to verify if all the assets were connected to Wawan's money laundering activities.
After collecting sufficient evidence, the KPK will find it easy to seize the assets, Johan said.
'We will return all the assets to the state if there is enough evidence of money laundering,' he said.
The KPK's bold move to seize the assets is the latest in a series of seizures, which aim to return
billions of rupiah to the state allegedly embezzled by Wawan from rigging a number state projects in Banten province and Banten's South Tangerang Municipality, where his wife currently serves as mayor.
Previously, KPK investigators confiscated around 77 vehicles ' ranging from luxury brands such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and Rolls Royce to trucks and buses ' allegedly tied to Wawan's money laundering.
Johan said the investigation into Wawan's ill-gotten assets was far from over.
Last year, the KPK named Wawan and Atut suspects for allegedly bribing former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar for him to rule in their favor ruling in a local election dispute in Lebak regency, a regency that Atut's family had little influence.
The KPK also named Wawan and Atut suspects in two separate graft cases involving the procurement of medical equipment for the South Tangerang regency and Banten province administrations. Later, the KPK charged Wawan with money laundering.
Wawan's lawyer Magdir Ismail lambasted the KPK for 'blindly confiscating any assets' related to his client.
Maqdir also vented at the KPK for notifying him of the recent confiscations.
He said that Wawan's money laundering charges came from 'the allegations that he had a hand in the procurement of medical equipment for the Banten administration in the period of 2011 and 2012.
'As the primary allegations date back to 2011 and 2012, the KPK should have only confiscated assets bought during that period. It is illogical that assets have been confiscated that were bought far before 2011,' Magdir said.
'For example, around 50 percent of the confiscated vehicles were bought prior to 2011. How could he launder money from the Banten administration case before 2011?' he added.
He also added that 'not all assets belonging to Wawan are related to money laundering' as he was a rich businessman prior to the graft case.
'As his lawyer, I demand an explanation from the KPK regarding the confiscation of my client's assets, which I believe are not related to the alleged money laundering charges,' the lawyer said.
Recently, in February, KPK deputy chief Bambang Widjojanto said that KPK investigators had collected information about Atut's wealth to find out whether the governor could also be charged with money
laundering.
'If we find connections between her graft cases and the assets she owns, we will consider a follow up move,' Bambang said. (tjs)
