Graft body to summon former home minister over fire engine case

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 03/22/2008 1:40 PM  |  Headlines

After arresting lawmaker Saleh Djasit for his alleged involvement in illegally inflating the price of purchased fire engines, the national graft body plans to question former home minister Hari Sabarno in the same case.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Johan Budi said Friday the questioning of Hari would focus on a circular he issued officially appointing PT Istana Sarana Karya as the sole provider of fire engines for several regional administrations.

"We asked him for an explanation last November and now we need to summon him again for further clarification," said Johan.

He said the circular, issued in 2003 for the purchase of fire engines in several regions across the country, including Riau, Medan, Makassar and East Kalimantan, was vital to the graft body's successful investigation of the case.

Thus far, former Makassar mayor Amiruddin Maula has been sentenced to five years in prison in the case, while the KPK has detained current Medan Mayor Abdillah and his deputy, Ramli Lubis, as well as the East Kalimantan procurement chief Ismed Rusdiani.

On Wednesday, the KPK detained Saleh, a former Riau governor and current lawmaker from Golkar Party.

PT Istana Sarana Karya director Hengki Samuel Daud has eluded investigators, and is believed to have fled overseas.

During the trial of Amiruddin earlier this year, prosecutors claimed Hengki transferred Rp 396 million to former home minister Hari to purchase a house in the Kota Wisata development in Cibubur, West Java.

Hari has denied the charge, although he acknowledges owning a house in Kota Wisata.

Prosecutor Sardjono Turin said Hengki's wife also transferred Rp 1.2 million to Hari's wife.

During the same trial, the former director general of regional autonomy, Oentarto Sindung Mawardi, admitted receiving Rp 50 million from Hengki.

Following the arrest of party member Saleh Djasit, Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono urged the KPK to go after everybody involved in the case, no matter how high up the investigation led them.

"There must be someone at a higher level involved," he said.

Saleh is charged with involvement in the fire engine mark up when he served as Riau governor from 1998 to 2003.

In 2003, the Riau administration allocated Rp 15.2 billion (US$1.6 million) to purchase 20 fire engines whose total market price at the time was Rp 10.7 billion.

Johan Budi said the KPK suspected Saleh marked up the prices of the fire engines, causing the state losses of Rp 4.5 billion.

Emerson Juntho of Indonesian Corruption Watch said the arrest of Saleh should open the door for the KPK to get tough on lawmakers allegedly involve in graft cases, including the high-profile Bank Indonesia case.(ewd)

Fire Engine Graft Case

City Suspect/Convict Status Value

Makassar ex-mayor Amiruddin Maula 5-year jail tern Rp 8.2b

Medan ex-mayor Abdillah & in detention Rp 12b

deputy mayor Ramli Lubis

Pekanbaru ex-governor and lawmaker

Saleh Djasit in detention Rp 15b

Samarinda procurement chief Ismed

Rusdiani in detention Rp 55b

Semarang - investigation -

Denpasar - investigation -

Bandung - investigation -

A  |   A  |   A  |    |   |    |    |    |  

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