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Palembang Mayor named graft suspect
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named on Monday Palembang Mayor Romi Herton along with his wife Masyitoh graft suspects for allegedly bribing disgraced former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar
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he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named on Monday Palembang Mayor Romi Herton along with his wife Masyitoh graft suspects for allegedly bribing disgraced former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar.
KPK investigators allege that Akil was bribed to grant Romi a victory in the dispute over the city's last mayoral election.
'We have found two strong pieces of evidence that R and M have a hand in the case,' KPK spokesman Johan Budi said a press briefing on Monday, referring to Romi and his wife by their initials.
In addition to the corruption charges, Romi and Masyitoh had also been charged with perjury as stipulated in Article 22 of the 2001 Corruption Law, Johan said.
Johan added that the KPK was still investigating other individuals allegedly involved in the slew of bribery cases plaguing the court.
Romi and his wife are the latest individuals to be named by the KPK as suspects in graft activity. Earlier, the KPK indicted suspended Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah along with her younger brother, businessman Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, and Susi Tur Andayani for bribing Akil to issue a favorable ruling in the Banten Gubernatorial election dispute in 2011, as well as in an election dispute in Lebak, where Atut had less control.
Akil has been implicated in the illegal procurement of Rp 57 billion (US$4.8 million) in connection with 10 local election disputes that were tried at the court while he was chief justice.
The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced both former Gunung Mas regent Hambit Bintih and former Golkar Party lawmaker Chairun Nisa to four years in prison for bribing Akil, who was also indicted for money laundering.
In relation to the money laundering charge, the KPK accused Akil of having laundered a total of Rp 160 billion ' Rp 180 billion during his term at the court, as well as Rp 20 billion while he was a lawmaker at the House of Representatives.
