T

estifying at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, former Bangkalan regent and cleric-turned-politician Fuad Amin said that billions of rupiah he accepted in bribes with regard to his services in approving a gas contract in 2007 were a gift that God sent to him through other people.

Fuad, who testified as a witness during the trial of graft defendant Antonius Bambang Djatmiko, who is the director of PT Media Karya Sentosa, said that he, representing the Bangkalan administration, had asked for a total of Rp 30 billion (US$2.3 million) in compensation fees and Rp 1.5 billion in monthly payoffs from Media Karya, the company that won the multimillion dollar gas contract in 2007.

In order to facilitate the money passing from Media Karya to Fuad, who is notorious for building his political dynasty in the region, a city-owned company called PD Sumber Daya was established, which later signed a contract with Media Karya to cover up the scheme.

Media Karya also signed the contract with Sumber Daya so it could buy gas directly from Pertamina EP, a subsidiary of state oil and gas firm Pertamina.

'€œAt first we demanded as much as Rp 50 billion in compensation fees and Rp 3 billion in monthly fees. We talked about it in a hotel with a middleman called Zaini, who said he had a number of generals as backups. I was being pressured during the meeting; that is why I agreed to the Rp 30 billion and Rp 1.5 billion scheme to be sent to Sumber Daya, not to me,'€ Fuad said.

Fuad, currently serves as Bangkalan Council speaker, wrapped up his decade-long rule of the Bengkalan administration in 2013. In a move to retain control of the regency, he installed his son as the leader of the administration, while he himself managed to take control of the leadership of the local legislative assembly in 2013.

Antonius'€™ indictment reveals that Fuad had received a total of Rp 18.5 billion from Sumber Daya, but he only received a total of Rp 5 billion.

'€œI did not report the [bribe] money to the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] because I consider that the money from other parties was a blessing from God,'€ Fuad said.

Fuad said he was aware that Antonius gave the money to him through Media Karya because he had helped the company to secure a gas deal when he was serving as Bangkalan regent in 2007, adding that he received the Rp 5 billion in 2014.

'€œI kept all the money from Pak Antonius. I kept all the receipts. When I was arrested by the KPK the money was still with me. I was afraid to report the money to the KPK and at the same time I am also aware that I was wrong when I did not report it to the KPK,'€ Fuad said.

'€œThe point is I did not spend all the money. The money is a mandate,'€ Fuad went on.

In closing his testimony, Fuad reminded the panel of judges at the court that he was born and raised in a highly respected Muslim family in Bangkalan, adding that he was the offspring of a Muslim cleric, whose identity he did not disclose during the trial but who is the spiritual teacher of Hasyim Ashari, the founder of the nation'€™s largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Separately, KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said that KPK investigators were still completing Fuad'€™s dossiers to prepare his upcoming trial. '€œHis case is still ongoing and it is progressing,'€ Priharsa said.

In addition to his corruption case, in late December last year the KPK also slapped money laundering charges on Fuad.

'€”JP/Haeril Halim