T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday officially named Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Izedrik Emir Moeis a suspect in a graft case surrounding the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Tarahan, Lampung, in 2004.

The announcement was made following an earlier statement by Law and Human Rights deputy minister Denny Indrayana on Wednesday. According to Denny, the KPK sent a letter requesting his office impose a travel ban on the politician. The letter mentioned Emir’s status is a suspect in the case.

KPK deputy leader Bambang Widjojanto said the KPK didn’t announce Emir’s status on Wednesday pending an investigation process.

“We did not announce it publicly until today to get better results [in the investigation],” Bambang said.
On Thursday, the KPK raided three locations, including Emir’s house in Kalibata, South Jakarta; the house of PT Artha Nusantara Utama director Zuliansyah Putra, and the office of tender winner PT Alstom Indonesia in Pondok Pinang, South Jakarta.

Emir had allegedly received US$300,000 in bribes during the construction project and would be charged under Article 5 and Article 12 of the corruption law on bribery.

Bambang, however, declined to elaborate on the details of Emir’s role in the tender.

“His role will be established during questioning,” Bambang said, declining to reveal when the anti-graft body would summon Emir for questioning.
When asked whether or not Emir would be arrested following the announcement, Bambang said that the investigators were still focusing on the raids.

“The KPK will arrest him if and when we need to. We will announce [it when it happens],” he said.

House deputy speaker Pramono Anung of the PDI-P said that Emir had met with the PDI-P party members to discuss the case. (cor)