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Jakarta Post

Ex councillor charged with bribery, money laundering

Former city councillor M

Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, August 25, 2016

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Ex councillor charged with bribery, money laundering

F

ormer city councillor M. Sanusi stood trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday for his alleged role in a high-profile bribery case centering on the deliberation of a draft bylaw pertaining to the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

The Gerindra Party politician, who is also the brother of City Council deputy speaker M. Taufik, stands accused of accepting Rp 2 billion (US$150,642) in bribes from developer PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL), which had been granted the reclamation projects.

In addition to the bribery charges, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors also accuse Sanusi of money laundering. The KPK alleges that the councillor laundered Rp 45 billion of illegally obtained money.

Prosecutor Ronald Worotikan said in December 2015 and February this year, Sanusi initiated at least two meetings with Sugianto “Aguan” Kusuma, chairman of APL, and the company’s president director Ariesman Widjaja, who has been charged in a separate case and is facing 4 years in prison.

“During the meetings, Sugianto Kusuma, also known as Aguan, asked the defendant to pass the draft bylaw,” Ronald said as quoted by antaranews.com.

The bylaw is crucial as it regulates not only the zoning of Jakarta’s coastal areas but also the 17 man-made islets in the reclamation project.

The prosecutors said in 2010, then Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo issued a permit for PT Kapuk Naga Indah (KNI), a subsidiary of Agung Sedayu, to build islet D, while in 2012 he also issued in-principle approval for Kapuk Naga on islets A and B. In 2014, Ahok extended the permits for islet G for PT Muara Wisesa Samudra, a subsidiary of APL, for islet I for APL’s indirect subsidiary PT Jaladri Kartika Pakci and for islet F for PT Jakarta Propertindo.

In follow-up meetings in March, Ariesman allegedly promised he could deliver Rp 2.5 billion to Sanusi if he passed the reclamation project’s draft bylaw and lowered the developer’s 15 percent contribution clause in the bylaw to only 5 percent. The 15 percent contribution from the developers involved in the reclamation project would enable the city to collect Rp 48 trillion, while the developer’s 5 percent expectation would slash the city’s potential income to Rp 28 trillion.

Sanusi accepted the request, Ronald said. He allegedly received the bribe from Ariesman’s assistant Trinanda Prihantoro, who then handed the money over to Sanusi’s assistant Geri on two occasions in March.

 In a separate case, Sanusi was also accused of spending and concealing Rp 45 billion of illegal funds he allegedly took from partner companies of the Jakarta Waterworks Agency. The funds are believed to have been used by the former councillor to secure his position as head of the City Council’s Commission D, which oversees public works and housing.

The money was allegedly used in several transactions between December 2012 and July 2015 to purchase houses, apartments, luxury cars and land in East Jakarta, on which he built the Mohamad Sanusi Center.

“The defendant made various purchases to hide or conceal the source of his wealth,” KPK prosecutor Budhi Sarumpaet said. Sanusi was charged under Article 12 of the Corruption Law on bribery and Article 3 of the Money Laundering Law for the hiding the dirty money.

Sanusi and his brother Taufik are among the strongest critics of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. Their party is now seeking support to beat the incumbent next year’s gubernatorial election.

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