PT Agung Podomoro Land president director Ariesman Widjaja has been named a corruption suspect, in relation to the deliberation of draft bylaws on Jakarta's zoning plans.
T Agung Podomoro Land president director Ariesman Widjaja has been named a corruption suspect, in relation to the deliberation of draft bylaws on Jakarta's zoning plans.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo announced the alleged involvement of the Agung Podomoro executive in the corruption case on Friday evening, expressing his concern that the business community had not been able to maintain its integrity.
Ariesman voluntarily came to KPK headquarters about two hours after the KPK named him a suspect.
"The businessman tried to influence the city administration and councilors without paying attention to the greater public interest, especially that related with the environment," Agus alleged in a press conference.
On Thursday, KPK investigators arrested Jakarta city councilor Mohamad Sanusi of the Gerindra Party and another suspect, identified as Geri, at a shopping mall in South Jakarta. During the operation, Sanusi and Geri allegedly received money from Trinanda Prihantoro, an employee of Agung Podomoro Land.
During the operation, investigators also arrested Trinanda at his office in West Jakarta and Berlian, a secretary at Agung Podomoro Land, at her house in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.
"Geri acted as a middleman to give the money or gift to the councilor in an effort to influence the deliberation of draft bills on Jakarta's Zoning Plan and Coastal Northern Territory (RZWP3K) for 2015-2035 and on the North Jakarta Strategic Area Regional Spatial Plan," Agus said.
If the bills are enacted into bylaw, they would among other things, help the Jakarta administration carry out its reclamation plans in Jakarta Bay in which Agung Podomoro Land is a major investor.
The anti-graft body seized Rp 1.14 billion (US$86,717) from two transactions. In the first transaction on March 28, Sanusi allegedly received Rp 1 billion, while in Thursday’s transaction, he allegedly received Rp 140 million.
Ariesman is accused of violating Article 5 and Article 13 of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication, while Sanusi is accused of violating Article 12 and Article 11 of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication. Trinanda is accused of violating Article 5 and Article 13 of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication. (bbn)
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