Minister hands over wedding gifts to graft body

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 04/04/2008 1:17 AM  |  Headlines

State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar had to hand the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) money his family received as wedding gifts for his son early last year, his wife said Thursday.

Erna Witoelar, who is a former women's empowerment minister, said her family did so to avoid being charged under the 2001 anti-corruption law banning state officials from receiving gifts or any other gratuities.

Article 12 of the law stipulates state officials could be sentenced to between four years' imprisonment and life imprisonment or fined between Rp 200 million (US$21,800) and Rp 1 billion ($109,000) if he or she is found accepting any rewards or gifts from third parties.

"All officials are required to report gifts of more than Rp 1 million to our office," said KPK chief Antasari Azhar, as quoted by detik.com news portal Thursday.

He said any minister holding a wedding ceremony for his or her child must hand over the envelopes they receive to be counted by KPK officials.

"If the minister received an envelope containing Rp 1.5 million, the KPK would take Rp 500,000 and return the remaining Rp 1 million to the owner," he said.

Erna said she was made aware of the regulation from her friends at the KPK just before she held the wedding ceremony for her youngest son in January 2007.

"I then told them to come to the ceremony and they opened all the envelopes given by the guests," she said.

She added several KPK officials counted the money then set aside envelopes with more than Rp 1 million.

"When they found envelopes with more than Rp 1 million, they only returned Rp 1 million to us and took the remainder," she said. "I gave the officials around Rp 70 million."

She said she did not mind the KPK taking the money received from businesspeople because they could be bribes.

"But they should not have taken the money given by my relatives and friends. It would be unusual to receive bribes from them."

She also said the KPK's actions caused her and her family inconvenience as the officials walked into the newlywed's room to count the envelopes right after the wedding ceremony.

"The situation was very tense and I was a bit embarrassed with all the guests there."

Despite her objection, Erna said she agreed with the action because it would discourage other state officials from receiving gifts.

She said she was disappointed state officials did not realize receiving gifts or rewards from businesspeople or other third parties meant taking a bribe.

"I hope the KPK widely publicizes this regulation because many officials are not aware of it," she said. (ewd)

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