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Mahfud says Abraham has questions to answer
After a direct attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad by a senior official of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), another blow was delivered by former chairman of the Constitutional Court Mahfud MD, who has accused Abraham of making deals with the party regarding party figures implicated in graft cases
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fter a direct attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad by a senior official of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), another blow was delivered by former chairman of the Constitutional Court Mahfud MD, who has accused Abraham of making deals with the party regarding party figures implicated in graft cases.
He said the main problem was not the political meetings between Abraham and PDI-P figures but the accusation that he made promises to assist PDI-P figures implicated in graft cases to smoothe the way for his bid for the vice-presidential candidacy.
'Regarding the political meetings, it is his political right to do so, but according to Hasto, Abraham, during the meetings, promised to help PDI-P figures implicated in graft cases and this is something he was not allowed to do in his capacity as KPK chairman,' Antara News Agency quoted him as saying on Thursday night, referring to allegations made by acting secretary-general of PDI-P Hasto Kristiyanto
According to Mahfud, who was former chairman of presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto's campaign team, the alleged meetings between Abraham and the PDI-P figures in connection with his vice-presidential bid in the 2014 presidential election were well-known about and that he had heard about them shortly after they took place.
'I have known about them and the people have known about them for a long time because they were widely publicized,' he said after attending a gathering of alumni of the Muslim Student Association (KAHMI).
The KPK is currently investigating a graft case implicating PDI-P figure Emir Moeis who is in detention.
Hasto claimed in the media on Thursday that Abraham had held several meetings with senior PDI-P members in his bid to be President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's running mate in last year's presidential election. Hasto said that Abraham and his team met him to lobby for his vice-presidential bid and that Abraham later knew that it was National Police chief hopeful Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan who had spoiled his chances. Budi has since been named a suspect in a graft case by the KPK.
Hasto called on the KPK ethics committee to probe the case to determine whether Abraham violated the KPK's code of ethics.
The KPK code of ethics prohibits KPK leaders or employees meeting any persons involved in graft cases being handled by the commission or discuss KPK matters.
The President and his circle, including Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, the PDI-P secretary general at that time, denied the meetings on Thursday.
Mahfud added that the KPK should resolve the allegations surrounding Abraham in accordance with its code of ethics and whether there is any connection with the suspended inauguration of Budi as new police chief. (rms)
