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 arrests C. Tapanuli regent for bribery
Same old story: Central Tapanuli Regent Raja Bonaran Situmeang (left) wears a detainee jacket on Monday after he is arrested after hours of questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta
Change Size
S
span class="inline inline-center">Same old story: Central Tapanuli Regent Raja Bonaran Situmeang (left) wears a detainee jacket on Monday after he is arrested after hours of questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta. Antara/Yudhi Mahatma
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Central Tapanuli Regent Raja Bonaran Situmeang on Monday after questioning him for more than six hours.
'The suspect will be detained for 20 days at the commission's detention center inside the military prison facility in Guntur, South Jakarta,' KPK spokesman Johan Budi told reporters during a press conference.
Johan said that Bonaran was suspected of violating Article 6 Paragraph 1 of the 2001 Corruption Law on bribing judges.
Bonaran allegedly offered the former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar Rp 1.8 billion (US$147,203) in bribes to influence the court to reject a lawsuit filed by his rival, Dina Riana Samosir, in a 2011 Central Tapanuli regional election dispute.
Bonaran and his running mate, Syukron Tanjung, won the election, securing 81,838 ballots, or 62 percent of the vote, while Dina and her partner, Hikmal Batubara, obtained 48,950 ballots, or 37 percent of the vote.
Bonaran won the case at the Constitutional Court.
'The investigation into the case is ongoing,' Johan said, adding that the commission was still collecting evidence to arrest others implicated in the case.
The KPK has arrested several regional leaders in cases of graft involving Akil, including former Palembang Mayor Romi Herton, his wife, and suspended Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah.
The anti-graft body searched Bonaran's law firm office, located at the Pusat Alkitab building in Senen, Central Jakarta, on Sept. 24.
The commission named Bonaran a suspect on Aug. 19. His name came to light along with others, including former Lebak deputy regent Amir Hamzah, and South Lampung Regent Rycko Menoza, after the commission expanded their investigation into the bribery case at the Constitutional Court involving Akil.
For his part, Bonaran said the arrest was merely an act of revenge carried out by KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto, who was once Dina's lawyer.
'I think [the case] is politicized. I did not have Rp 1.8 billion. So how could I bribe Akil?'
'I do not know Akil, nor did I bribe him. Previously in the [Constitutional Court], one of Bambang's appeals was to disqualify me as the regent-elect, but the court decided to reject the appeal,' he said after the questioning session on Monday, already wearing the orange jacket given to KPK suspects.
He also highlighted the KPK's inability to present the two pieces of evidence, which is the legal basis for arresting suspects, during his interrogation.
'This is an injustice,' he said.
Bonaran's lawyer, Tommy Sihotang, said that his client would soon challenge the KPK's claims.
Tommy said that the KPK asked 12 questions, none of which were connected Akil to his Bonaran.
Johan responded to the criticism by saying that 'the commission did not have the obligation to present the evidence during the questioning session'.
'Bonaran can see [the evidence] in the court [hearing],' he said.
He also said that Bonaran's allegation that the KPK had politicized the case had no basis.
'When Pak Bambang became KPK commissioner he had not been a lawyer for anyone,' he said.
Bambang also denied the allegation, saying that he was never involved in any criminal activity with Bonaran. (ask)
