T

he money-laundering trial of ex-city councilor Mohamad Sanusi, currently ongoing at the Jakarta Corruption Court, appears to provide a glimpse into how endemic corruption has undermined efforts to better manage Jakarta, which has long faced a plethora of urban problems.

For years Sanusi has enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle that most Indonesians can only dream of.

With a monthly salary of Rp 30 million (US$2,269) as a city councilor, the Gerindra Party politician has been able to afford a Rp 3.2 billion apartment unit in South Jakarta, land worth Rp 7.2 billion and two sports cars.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Sanusi in April for allegedly accepting
Rp 2 billion in bribes from developer company PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL) to accommodate the company’s interests in the deliberation of a draft bylaw on the reclamation project in Jakarta Bay. Former APL president director Ariesman Widjaja has also been charged in the case.

The KPK, however, later charged Sanusi with money laundering, accusing the politician of compromising city regulations for years in return for kickbacks from other companies.

Based on the KPK’s indictment against him, a copy of which was made available to The Jakarta Post, Sanusi allegedly laundered Rp 45 billion of dirty money that he got from private companies operating in the capital.

The indictment document claims that PT Wirabayu Pratama, which carried out various water-related projects for the city administration between 2012 and 2015, delivered up Rp 21 billion, while another company PT Imemba Contractors allegedly gave him Rp 2 billion. Sanusi is suspected of having abused his position as head of the Jakarta Public Works and Housing Agency.

Sanusi reportedly used the money to purchase two apartment units in the Thamrin Executive Residence in Central Jakarta at a total cost of Rp 2.5 billion; a Rp 6 billion house in Bogor, West Java; a Rp 3.2 billion apartment unit in Soho Pancoran South Jakarta; 410 square meters of land in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, bought for Rp16.7 billion; an A5 Audi costing Rp 850 million; and a Jaguar XJL worth 2.2 billion.

“His official income as a city councilor and what he earns from PT Bumi Raya Properti did not match with his wealth. Therefore, it could not be legally accountable,” KPK prosecutor Budhi Sarumpaet told the panel of judges during Wednesday’s hearing of Sanusi’s trial, referring to the company of which Sanusi is a commissioner.

City councilors have been heavily criticized for their lavish lifestyles and their reluctance to submit official wealth reports (LHKPN) to the anti-graft commission, leading many Jakartans to suspect that the city may be run by a clique of individuals bent on feathering their own nests. These doubts were reinforced during the inauguration of the 2014-2019 city councilors in August 2014, which turned into a parade of luxurious cars.

Besides Sanusi’s Jaguar XJL, a Lamborghini Gallardo was driven by City Council deputy speaker Abraham “Lulung” Lunggana, and several high-end Toyota Alphards could also be seen during the event. “The car’s not mine, it’s my friend’s and I just borrowed it,” Lulung said at the time.

Sanusi has repeatedly denied that his wealth originates from illegal sources. Through his lawyer, he has claimed that he earned the money from the business that he started before setting foot in the City Council chamber.

“Before being elected as a city council member he was a businessman and until now he still is,” Sanusi’s lawyer Krisna Murthi said in June, referring to his client’s position at PT Bumi Raya Properti, from which he earned Rp 2.6 billion between 2009 and 2015.