KPK NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY POLITICAL IMPACT IN E-KTP GRAFT TRIAL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 9 (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will not be affected by the political impact of a graft trial over the procurement of identity cards (e-KTP) project for 2011-2012 period.           "Of course, we have not taken any political impact (in handling the case) into account, because the KPK's focus is to tackle this case in a legal manner," KPK Spokesman Febri Diansyah said, referring to the numerous big names mentioned in the prosecutor's indictment, at the KPK building here on Wednesday.           According to Diansyah, the KPK will focus on two defendants linked to the e-KTP graft case who will be tried in the court.           "We will continue to collect information, facts, and pieces of evidence. The KPK will handle this case as maximally as possible based on its authority. Therefore, the KPK will go on through the legal process based on its authority," Diansyah stated.           He added that KPK would proceed with the case on legal grounds. Regarding the political impact, he also stated that laws must be respected.       "Because this country is based on the law, we will proceed with the legal process based on the KPK authority," he added.

ARREST OF CHIEF JUSTICE RAISES DEMAND FOR DEATH PENALTY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 5 (Antara) - Increasing cases of corruption committed by public officials is resulting in calls for enacting the death penalty following the conviction of corrupt officials.          The public has been frustrated amid efforts to cleanse the country of graft, yet corruption continues to take place.          The arrest of Chief Justice Akil Mochtar of the Constitutional Court (MK) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday was just one in a series of arrests made of high ranking officials.          "The arrest of Akil Mochtar by the KPK added more proof to the fact that corruption has penetrated all state institutions," Emerson F Yuntho, a leader of Indonesian Corruption Watch (IWC), said.      He added that the arrest of the Constitutional Court chairman is a disaster for the country's Constitution.          A similar concern was also expressed by officials of Indonesian Police Watch (IPW), saying the public has been frustrated by the MK leader being mired in a graft case.          The Corruption Eradication Commission on Wednesday arrested Chairman of the Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar on charges of receiving bribes from a lawmaker and a businessman, in connection with a dispute related to the election of the head of the Gunung Mas district in Central Kalimantan.          He was caught allegedly accepting US$260 thousand from a Golkar party lawmaker, identified as CHN, and a businessman, CN. KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the KPK could only acknowledge that a total value of Rp2.7 billion in dollar and rupiah currencies had been confiscated following the KPK's search of Akil Mochtar's official residence.

KPK TO INVESTIGATE BEEF CASE AT AGRICULTURE MINISTRY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 6 (Antara) - Investigators will probe agriculture ministry officials after they have arrested two beef importer firm directors, one political party chief and his close associate over an alleged bribery deal on beef import worth billions of rupiah.          Johan Budi, spokesman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said his agency would not stop its investigation at only the arrest of the four suspects by his commission. He indicated that the KPK would investigate the case at the ministry of agriculture.          "We need to investigate the alleged bribery linked to the issuance of a permit for the importation of beef. In the coming one or two weeks we will invite agriculture ministry officials. If need be, we will summon the minister of agriculture to ask for clarifications," the KPK spokesman said on Tuesday.          According to KPK Chief Abraham Samad, the questioning of Agriculture Minister Suswono as a witness is important to enrich KPK's investigation. "He will be questioned soon," he added.          He said the questioning was needed to enrich KPK's investigation of the case linked to former president of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.          Samad said there were also other witnesses that would possibly be questioned besides Suswono in an effort to find possible other persons involved in the case.          The KPK has arrested Juard Effendi, Arya Abdi Effendi (both are directors of beef importer PT Indoguna Utama), Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq (a lawmaker and president of the Prosperous Justice Party /PKS) and his close friend Ahmad Fathanah.

SILENT OPERATION NEEDED TO FIGHT GRAFT IN STATE FIRMS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 11 (ANTARA) - Although Indonesia has recorded a slight improvement in its fight against corruption, as indicated in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), yet the problem remains rampant across the country and needs serious attention.   Last year, Indonesia scored 3.0 in the Transparency International's CPI, up 0.2 points from its CPI score of 2.8 in 2010. In 2011, Indonesia ranked 100 out of 183 countries in the world. However, it ranked 110 out of 178 countries in 2010, and 111th out of 180 countries in 2009.          Despite the improvement, Indonesia faces a serious problem that must be fought off. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself admitted that corruption continued to undermine the country.  "Corruption is rampant in this country. It is a serious problem, and it hinders the country's development," he said during the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day at his state palace on Monday.

MINISTER REPORTS ALLEGED EXTORTION BY LAWMAKERS TO HOUSE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) was called on Monday to follow up on a report by State Enterprise Minister Dahlan Iskan about lawmakers who had allegedly extorted money from state-owned firms.           "The ball is now in the hands of the Ethics Council of the House of Representatives. If the House is serious about improving its image, its ethics council should follow up on the report of the state-owned firms," Budi Purnomo Karjodihardjo, coordinator of BUMN Care, a state-owned firm watchdog, said here on Monday.

HAMBALANG SPORTS COMPLEX BECOMES 'FIELD' OF LEGAL BATTLE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (ANTARA) - After almost a decade, the Rp2.5 trillion Hambalang athlete training center project in Bogor, West Java, seems to be developing into a field of legal 'battle' rather than a sports complex.           Following the collapse of a number of sports buildings last December, reportedly due to the subsidence of land and inappropriate soil texture beneath, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng ordered the stoppage of the project.           Besides technical problems, the project, which is expected to develop a national sports school, training and education center, is also grappling with a legal problem as funds for its construction are alleged to have been marked up.           The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked the State Audit Board (BPK) to conduct an investigation into the case. While the BPK is still preparing a final report, rumors abound that some names have disappeared from the report after being included initially.           Media reports allege that there has been interference in the BPK which has caused the state audit agency to scrap the names.           A KPK spokesman, however, expressed conviction that there was no illegal intervention.       "I do not believe that there has been any intervention. In this case, the KPK has asked the BPK to conduct a comprehensive audit on the Hambalang project, including the losses caused to the state," KPK spokesman, Johan Budi SP said on Friday.          Budi said that state auditors calculate losses incurred by the state due to the alleged marking-up in the Hambalang project and the anti-graft body is cooperating with the state audit board.          The KPK spokesman also said that the KPK is yet to receive a report on the results of the BPK audit on the Hambalang sports complex project.          However, he stressed that the KPK will not base its investigation on the BPK audit results but on its own follow-up examinations before raising the case's legal status to the investigation level.          "If the status of the examinations is raised to the investigation level, it would mean that the KPK has found enough evidence of corruption in the implementation of the Hambalang sports center project," he said.          However, the BPK has not finalized its investigative report yet, which is expected to be finished sometime next week.          Taufiequrachman Ruki, a member of BPK, said that the BPK's auditors were still working to finish the investigation process before the matter is brought before the audit board meeting.           "We will carefully cross check what is found and written in the report. We expect the report to take another week to finish," he said.           However, he added that the BPK's initial audit has discovered that the disbursement of initial funds for the development of the sports complex had been transferred to different recipients.           "It still has to be proven whether or not the initial disbursement was an underlying transaction. We have to reveal it. We will investigate if it is in accordance with regulations or not. But for the time being there is an indication that the flow of the fund has been suspicious," he said.           The Hambalang sports complex project was started in 2003 when it was under the auspices of the Directorate General of Sports of the Ministry of Education and Culture. It aimed to build more sports facilities outside the Ragunan Sports Centre in East Jakarta.           In the 2004 -2009 period, the project was taken over by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, which handled land clearance, land certificate, geological study and the drawing up of its master plan.          In 2009, Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs proposed a budget of Rp1.25 trillion for the construction of the project and the budget allocation was raised to Rp1.175 trillion through the Ministry of Finance.          Of the proposed budget of Rp1.175 trillion, an allocation of Rp275 billion got the required approval. Rp125 billion were to be allocated through the 2012 state budget and the remaining amount of Rp150 billion was to be allocated through the revised 2012 state budget.          According to media reports, the Hambalang project is expected to be built in three stages. The total funds will amount to Rp2.5 trillion, if the funds for the procurement of sports facilities are also included.          However, the funds being investigated by the KPK are only those allocated for its physical construction, worth Rp1.2 trillion.          The KPK has named Deddy Kusdinar, the head of youth and sports affairs ministry's finance and household bureau, as a suspect because of his role as the ministry's former planning bureau chief and for allegedly abusing his power.         Kusdinar, who was in charge of the tender process, was charged by the KPK last July over graft in the multi-trillion rupiah project.          The Hambalang case came to fore when it was revealed by M. Nazaruddin, a former Democrat Party treasurer and a fugitive in connection with the alleged corruption in the construction of an ASEAN athlete housing complex in South Sumatra.       In a telephone conversation with a private TV station in July 2011, Nazaruddin said that the tender winners for the Hambalang athlete training center project had been decided even before they were called.          Nazaruddin added that PT Adhi Karya and PT Wijaya Karya paid Rp100 billion in bribes to win the tenders for the project worth Rp1.5 trillion.          During the conversation from an undisclosed overseas location, Nazaruddin said that PT Anugrah Nusantara played a key role in arranging government contracts whose funds were to be allocated through the revised state budget.          PT Anugrah Nusantara, which Nazaruddin said belongs to Anas Urbaningrum, general chairman of the ruling Democrat Party (PD),  collected funds from state-owned companies (SOE) such as Adhi Karya (ADHI) and Wijaya Karya (Wika) to enable them to win the tender.          The Hambalang project is a sports center project designed for athletes in Hambalang village, Citeureup sub-district, Bogor district, West Java.          The athlete training center will consist of several buildings, such as dormitories and training halls. It is spread over an area of 32 hectares and was initially expected to be completed in 2013. ***1***   (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH) 22-10-2012 20:34:5

NU SAYS CORRUPT COUNTRY DESERVES NO TAXES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 17 (ANTARA) - One can imagine what will happen if people do not pay taxes in a country such as Indonesia, in which a majority of development projects are funded by taxes.          Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which has reportedly more than 30 million members, has raised questions on the people's obligation to pay taxes, on grounds that corrupt officials siphon off the revenue.          "If the government fails to tackle corruption seriously and does not manage taxes well, we will call for a moratorium on tax payment, at least for NU members," NU General Chairman Said Aqil Siroj said during the National Meeting of Ulamas and NU Congress at Kempek Boarding School in Cirebon, West Java, on Sunday.          Earlier in Jakarta, he stated that people should stop paying taxes temporarily until the government proved its commitment to managing taxes for the welfare of the people.          "Based on religious regulations, paying taxes is not an obligation. It is different from paying 'zakat' (alms). There is no obligation for Muslims to pay tax. They only have the obligation to pay zakat," said Said Aquil, who has a doctorate from the Ummul Qura University of Mecca.          He noted that tax payment was only part of the obligation to abide by the government regulations. "But the problem is that the taxes are siphoned off by corrupt officials. So, do we still have the obligation to pay taxes?" Said Aquil asked.          "Therefore, this is a strong warning for the government to seriously and comprehensively improve its tax management system so that taxes are not stolen away," he added.          Said Aquil said NU demanded that taxes collected from the people be managed with full commitment to the welfare of the people, corruption at tax agencies be eliminated, and tax thieves be taken to court and given harsh punishment.          If the government took the necessary steps, he added, NU would support its regulations and call on NU members to pay taxes.          General Chairman of NU Scholars Association (ISNU) Ali Masykur Musa stated that the discussion among NU members on whether to continue paying taxes should be construed by the government as a warning from the biggest Muslim organization.         Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, because Muslims account for 90 percent of the nation's total population of about 240 million.          "This should be viewed as NU's commitment to the country," Ali Masykur said on the sidelines of the congress.          He noted that taxes were the biggest source of revenue for the state, accounting for about 70 percent of the total state budget. "If the 2013 draft state budget is set at Rp1,540 trillion, some Rp1,200 trillion will come from taxes.          Therefore, NU warns the government and tax officials against playing around with taxes," Ali Masykur added.          The Deputy Secretary General of NU Women organization, Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh, also urged the government to improve its tax management system.  "This is a serious warning. The government should introspect," said Zannuba, the daughter of former president Abdurrahmah Wahid.          Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Clean Indonesian Movement (GIB) Adhie Massardi explained that the NU's threat to stop paying taxes was in line with the response of middle-ranked NU ulamas (Muslim scholars) to increasing corruption in the government.          According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2011, Indonesia ranked 100 out of 183 countries in the world, with a score of 3.0. The score increased by 0.2, compared with previous year's 2.8. In 2010, Indonesia was ranked 110 out of 178 countries. In 2009, it ranked 111th out of 180 nations.          "I think there is discontent among our friends in NU who reckon that people in the upper ranks, or leaders of the Central Board of NU, are too close to the people in power. And because of that such people are unable to criticize the government for the poor socio-political and economic conditions in the country," said Adhie, who is also former presidential spokesman of former president Wahid.          He stated that officials in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of the state seemed to be carried away by the rising wave of corruption.          "The way of our friends in NU plan to offer resistance to a corrupt regime is reflected in our slogan, 'boycott paying taxes', as most of taxes could be seen misused," Adhie stated.         "Behind the boycott slogan is the spirit of civil resistance, such as ones waged by Mahatma Gandhi in India against the British government," he said.          "Unfortunately, the spirit of resistance to the corrupt regime was present only within the middle ranks of NU, not within its upper leaders. So, the call for boycott seemed half-hearted," Adhie noted.          "Therefore, government officials have also been invited to the meeting and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to close the event," he explained.       "So, it is not too hard to guess that the spirit of resistance will immediately die after the event is over," the former presidential spokesman added.          With regard to the management of taxes in the country, legislator Nusron Wahid pointed out that tax reforms had been put in place but the desired results were not achieved.         "The government has carried out tax reforms. But there is no point if the results are not achieved," said Nusron, who is also the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission XI on financial affairs, in Cirebon.          "Tax reforms have helped raise the ratio of tax receipts against the gross domestic product, from 11 percent to 12 percent. The government is taking actions against tax evaders," he stated.          Therefore, the legislator expressed concerns over NU's call to boycott taxes.          "If people do not pay tax, the government would have no funds to finance education or infrastructure development," noted Nusron, who is also the general chairman of the Anshor Movement, a youth organization of NU.          "I hope this is just a warning to the government so that it steps up its efforts to eliminate corruption," the Golkar Party member said.         Nusran¿s colleague Bachruddin Nashori, from the House Commission III on legal affairs, agreed with him, saying that the NU only intended to warn the government.         "I am convinced the NU Executive Board will not issue a religious advice or fatwa that state taxes should not be paid. I agree that the move is a call for the government to manage taxes well," Bachrudin added.***1*** (T.A014/INE/f001) (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 17-09-2012 16:29

PEOPLE JUST WANT CORRUPTORS TO GET PUNISHED

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 4 (ANTARA) - The controversy over which is the rightful body to handle an alleged corruption case in the purchase of driving simulators worth Rp198.7 billion, has drawn public attention as it takes place within a police institution.         "Apart from the controversy, what the people want is that corruptors get punished, no matter which institution is handling it,¿ Hajriyanto Y Thohari, a deputy chief the People's Consultative Assembly, said referring to the current controversy.          It began when the Corruption Elimination Commission (KPK) named a suspect, Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, the governor of Police Academy and a former chief of the Traffic Police Corps (Korlantas), in an alleged corruption case. The Korlantas was handling the simulators procurement project in 2011.         After naming a suspect, Ins. Gen Djoko Susilo, the KPK moved to investigate the Korlantas in an effort to find evidence.        It later announced three more suspects, Brigadier General Didik Purnomo, the deputy chief of the Korlantas,  Budi Susanto, the president director of PT Cintra Mandiri Metalindo Abadi (CMMA), which was the tender winner in the procurement of the driving simulator facilities, and Sukodjo S Bambang, the director of PT Inovasi Teknologi Indonesia, which was the subcontractor of CMMA.         Following the KPK move, the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) also announced five suspects in the case.         "Since August 1, 2012, Bareskrim's investigators have named five suspects and the decision letter for the commencement of the investigation (SPDP) has been issued and sent to the Attorney General's Office," National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen Anang Iskandar said on Thursday.        The five suspects are Brig. Gen. DP, Adjunct Senior Commissioner TR, Commissioner LG and two winners of the procurement project tender, namely SB and BS.         Not only have police moved even faster, arresting four suspects, but they arrested three middle ranking and a high ranking police officer and a civilian on charges of corruption in the case.         The three officers arrested on Saturday included Djoko's deputy, Brig. Gen. Didik Purnomo, and two middle ranking police officers.  "It is true , the  three police officers and a civilian have been arrested," police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafly Amar said Saturday.          Controversies arose as police made the arrest while the case was being investigated by the KPK. Even police have confirmed it would not hand over its suspects to the anti-corruption agency, particularly the three middle and high ranking officers.          The three senior officials accused of graft for procuring flawed driving simulators for the traffic police will not be tried by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK),  Bareskrim said on Friday.          National Police Commissioner General Sutarman also confirmed that the graft case suspects would not be handed over to the KPK.          National Police Traffic Corps deputy chief Brig. Gen. Didik Purnomo, chief director of PT Indonesian Technology Innovation Sukotjo S. Bambang, and director of PT Citra Mandiri Metalindo Abadi Budi Susanto have been accused of procuring faulty R2 and R4 driving simulators.  The chiefs of the firms that won these procurement contracts have also been named as suspects.         The National Police has determined that Budi Susanto and other goods providers are suspects in the corrupt procurement that took place in July last year, Sutarman said.         The police decision not to hand over the suspects to the KPK has drawn criticism from certain circles.          According to Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), the handling of the case by police has legal flaws because police have no right to investigate the case.  "The police interference in the case is legally flawed and is funny," Febri Diansyah, a legal researcher of the ICW  asserted.         He added that that matter is regulated in Article 50, clause (3), Law No. 30 / 2002 of the Corruption Eradication Commission. It states that a case which has been handled by the KPK could not be interfered in by or be investigated by police or prosecutors.        It was also mentioned in Article 50 point (4) in case an investigation occurs at the same time, police and prosecutors must stop their investigations.         Therefore, in this case, the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society Organization (MAKI) said it would file a pre-trial lawsuit against the National Police chief at the South Jakarta District Court in the next three days if police were still handling the alleged driving simulator procurement corruption case.          "We ask the police chief to cancel the police investigation into the case or hand it over to the KPK in three days," MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman said. He added that MAKI would file the pretrial lawsuit on Wednesday next week if police had not ended its involvement in the case.         He said the lawsuit would be filed based on Law No. 8 1981 of the Criminal Code Procedure which regulates pretrials for unlawful detention and confiscation of a suspect or evidence.         Regarding the controversies, Himahanto Juwana, a law professor at the University of Indonesia, asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to act quickly and urged the police to abide by the Law on Corruption Eradication Commission and hand over the case to the KPK.        "The president must take stern action against the police, who have the impression that they can refuse to transfer the corruption case to the KPK ," Hikmahanto stressed.         He said that the government should prevent, as early as possible, the emergence of frictions among the people regarding a high profile legal case. "Slow action by the president will adversely put a burden on him if, eventually, the people take over through various means, such as through social media," said Hikmahanto.          Yet, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has only asked the KPK and the National Police to cooperate in handling the case. His spokesman, Julian Aldrin Pasha, said at the State Palace on Friday that the president has received a report about the case.           "The president has received a report about it and has asked the chief minister for political, legal and security affairs to communicate with the Police chief and the KPK leaders to develop synergy in handling the case," Julian said.          Julian added that the president respected the legal corridors and would not interfere in the case. By instructing the chief security and legal affairs minister, the president had responded to and taken a step regarding the case.         In the meantime, the People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Hajriyanto Y Thohari said for the people it did not matter whether the police or the KPK would handle the corruption case. What is important for them is that corrupt people and officers are punished.        "For the people, the institution which handles a corruption case is not important. It can be by the police or by the KPK. But what is important is that those involved in the corruption case are really arrested and put in jail," said  Hajriyanto Y Thohari.***1*** (T.A014/INE   ) (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 04-08-2012 18:2

GRAFT AGENCY EXPECTS MORE SUSPECTS IN ATHLETE VILLAGE SCANDAL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - The disclosure on Friday that Democrat Party (PD) cadre Angelina Sondakh is named a suspect is expected to serve as an entry point for investigators to uncover other suspects in an alleged corruption scheme involving construction of an athletes village.          Angelina Sondakh, who is deputy secretary general of the ruling Democrat Party and  a member of the PD Faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), said her being named as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was not the end of this episode.          "This is not the end, it's just the beginning," said Angelina, whois also popularly called Angie, in a Blackberry text message to ANTARA. She also called on all parties to respect the principle that those accused are presumed innocent.          Further, Angie said she hoped God would provide proof of her innocence and reveal the problems behind the case.          In the meantime, KPK Chairman Abraham Samad, who was recently appointed chief of the anti-graft body and has pledged to investigate major cases such as the Bank Century and the SEA Games athletes village construction scandals, said the new suspects would open the door to uncover the involvement of other parties.          Therefore, he said, KPK has asked for Angie and I Wayan Koster, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), to be banned from traveling abroad.          It was KPK chief Abraham Samad who announced on Friday that Angie  is one of the new suspects in the corruption investigation of the SEA Games athletes village construction project in Palembang, South Sumatra.          Angelina is the second Democrat Party cadre implicated in the case, after charges were filed naming M Nazaruddin, the party's former treasurer, who is now on trial in the corruption criminal court.          Nazaruddin was charged with having received a bribe in the form of a fee for helping PT Duta Graha Indah to win the tender for construction of the Rp191 billion SEA Games athletes village project.          Nazaruddin was believed to have received Rp4.3 billion and Angelina is accused of accepting Rp5 billion. Angelina Sondakh and Wayan Koster previously denied receiving fees for assisting PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI) in his being awarded the project contract, worth Rp191 billion.          Witnesses during the trial of M Nazaruddin have often mentioned Angie and Wayan Koster as having received Rp5 billion in cheques in two stages from the director of PT Anak Negeri, Mindo Rosalina Manulang (Rosa).          Abraham said the KPK would delve deeper into the case, and with Angelina now an official suspect, the opportunity had been opened to investigate the involvement of others.          The KPK will charge  Angelina based upon Article 5-section  2 or 11,  or Article 12 paragraph of  Law No  31 on Corruption Eradication, for having received a promise or gift as a payment.          Further, Abraham Samad said the commission would have no qualms about declaring anybody a suspect, regardless of the person's position, if it acquires evidence against them.          "If we already have the evidence, anybody - whether  politician, businessman or even party leader - can be named a suspect" in a corruption case, Abraham said here Friday.          He added that it often happened that in the public's view, a person could already be seen as a suspect in a corruption case, though under the Criminal Code one can only become a suspect if officials already have  at least two exhibits or pieces of evidence against the accused.          In the meantime, PD Secretary General Edhie Baskoro (Ibas) expressed concern that PD legislator Angelina Sondakh has been named as a suspect by the  KPK.          Nonetheless, he said, the Democrat Party would support the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, the KPK in particular, to uncover the truth in the corruption case. "I am concerned about Angelina having been named a new suspect in the alleged SEA Games athletes village corruption case," he said in a press statement.          He noted that the party would continue monitoring developments in the KPK's investigation and adhere to its internal mechanism and statutes in responding to matters involving any of its members.          "Another PD cadre now has to undergo a legal process, after we already have been rocked for so long by storms and waves of trials. We are being tested," Ibas added.          Therefore, the Democrat Party's executive board is to form a legal defense team for Angelina Sondakh.          "The Democrat Party's executive board respects the legal process which adheres to the principle of presumption of innocence. The party will form a team to provide legal assistance to Angelina Sondakh," Mohammad Jafar Hafsah, chairman of the party's people's welfare department, said.          Regarding the naming of Angelina Sondakh as a suspect, legislator Bambang Soesatyo of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III on legal affairs said he appreciated the anti-graft body's decision.          "With its decision to name Miranda Gultom and Angelina Sondakh as suspects, the KPK gives us new hope for the disclosure of the travel check and SEA Games village cases. What remains now is the Bank Century case, which involves a bailout of RP6.7 trillion," said Bambang Soesatyo.***1*** (A014/A/INE/A014)04-02-2012 14:39

NAZARUDDIN WON'T 'SPEAK UP'

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 20 (ANTARA)  - The public cannot expect too much in terms of  disclosure of other corruption cases if graft suspect Nazaruddin remains silent and continues to claim he has forgotten all the statements he made when he was on the run overseas.          Nazaruddin, who is a former treasurer of the ruling Democrat Party (PD), said on Thursday  he had forgotten all things relating to his statements overseas and promised not to disclose anything that would smear the image of the PD if his wife and children were protected.          According to House Speaker Marzuki Alie who is also former secretary general of the Democrat Party, Nazaruddin had the right to remain silent or speak up.          "Nazaruddin, although he is a suspect, has rights. Whether he wants to speak up or remain silent, it's his right, and we should respect it," Marzuki Alie.          During TV interviews while on the run abroad, Nazaruddin, who is a corruption suspect linked to the construction of an athlete village in South Sumatra, accused several PD leaders, including chairman Anas Urbanigrum, of involvement in corruption.         He also mentioned that the tender winners of the Hambalang athlete training center project in Bogor, West Java, where a firm  belonging to Anas was also involved, had been arranged even before the tenders were called for.          Yet, his statements on Thursday that he had forgotten what he had said during his hiding abroad, would not eliminate public suspicions, even though he did not make any account of the other cases in court.          Secretary General of the Indonesian Advocates Association (AAI) Jhonson Panjaitan said Nazaruddin, who is also  a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), would not disclose corruption cases other than that linked to the SEA Games athlete village project in Palembang, South Sumatra.          "Nazaruddin stressed he would not reveal other cases," Jhonson said. Therefore, Jhonson suggested that the public should not hope too much that there would be many other cases which would be uncovered in connection with the arrest of Nazaruddin.           Nazaruddin was arrested in Cartagena, Colombia, last week and was flown to Indonesia on Saturday after he was hiding in foreign countries for more than two months. He fled to Singapore a day before he was banned to travel abroad by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on May 23, 2011.           The KPK has said that Nazaruddin allegedly played roles in different graft cases involving 35 government projects in several ministries, worth a total of Rp6.037 trillion.           When he was on the run, Nazaruddin during the TV interviews was firm in stating the involvement of several figures in corruption cases but during his first examination by the KPK on Thursday he showed a very different attitude.          Jhonson believed the change in the attitude of Nazaruddin was due to his concern on the safety of his wife, Neneng Sriwahyuni. "Nazaruddin was suffering from depression because his wife was trapped in the mafia," Jhonson said.          He said the matter was indicated in Nazaruddin's remarks at the KPK building. Nazaruddin expressed briefly his request that his family should be protected. Only several hours after he was grilled by the KPK, he pleaded guilty and asked that he be punished right away.          Nazaruddin claimed he had already forgotten all things relating to the statements he had made during his travels  as a fugitive abroad.          "Don't harm my wife and children. I have forgotten all things. I admit I have made mistakes. If need be, I can be punished right away, no need to be investigated," he said.          Bambang Soesatyo, a member of   Law Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR)  said  the public believed Nazaruddin was  not alone in the corrupt acts he is accused of.          "Therefore,  we hope the KPK  can  uncover what has really happened in connection with Nazaruddin's decision to shut his mouth and his readiness to sacrifice himself in the case," the legislator from the Golkar Party said.           Nazaruddin's lawyer, OC Kaligis, had said that Nazaruddin planned to keep silent during the investigation by KPK.  "His lawyer has also said that he had expressed readiness to sacrifice himself in exchange for the safety of his wife and children," Soesatyo said.          In view of the situation he said there was no reason for KPK for not unveiling a possible conspiracy behind Nazaruddin's case. "I reaffirm that the public hopes very much that the KPK will  be able to unveil what has really happened," he said.          OC Kaligis said his client had been under pressure and for this reason Nazaruddin  had asked to be moved from the detention cell of the Mobile Police Headquarters (Mako) in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, to the  Cipinang Penitentiary in east Jakarta.          "The first questioning has been completed. He asked to be moved to Cipinang so that he could feel free for examinations,"  OC Kaligis said.          Yet police said Nazaruddin was not under any pressure while at Mako's detention.           "Prisoners at the Mobile Brigade Headquarters are not under pressure because we protect their human rights," National Police Headquarters' spokesman Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam said.            Earlier, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar also  assured the public that graft suspect Nazaruddin was not under any kind of pressure because if he was, he would no doubt have spoken out about it.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/16:15/a014) 20-08-2011 16:12

LAWMAKERS QUESTIONING NAZARUDDIN'S REPATRIATION EXPENSES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 14 (ANTARA) - Various quarters, including lawmakers and activists, are questioning the expenses amounting to Rp4 billion the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has spent in repatriating graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin.          Nazaruddin, a former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party (PD) who was arrested recently in Cartagena, Colombia, for a corruption case linked to an athlete's village project in Sumatra, was flown home to Indonesia with a  chartered Gulfstream jet plane.          The repatriation cost, which includes the chartered plane fee, amounting to Rp4 billion, sparked controversies and calls on the KPK to explain it openly.          Lawmakers urged the KPK to openly explain the reasons and details of the expenses.          Secretary General of the Indonesian Democraticic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Tjahjo Kumolo said here on Sunday that it was ironical for the repatriation of the legal case suspect to be  flown home on a chartered private jet plane at such a vast amount of  money.          "They can use a commercial plane for efficiency and effectiveness reasons. The KPK should explain it openly," Tjahjo said.          He said that actually as long as it could show clear results, there was no problem for the state to spend such  big amount of money in hunting  down a suspect who was expected to reveal certain very important legal cases.          Tjahjo then made a satirical remark saying that the KPK did not, however, take the same action fairly against all suspects fleeing overseas. According to him, the arrest of Nazaruddin marked the end of the first episode of a dramatized case by the KPK with an extra-ordinary effort involving the Interpol, the government, law enforcers, observers, the media, politicians and all of the people of Indonesia.          "It is extraordinarily great, its fragmentation outbalances a terrorist fugitive who is hunted down by the Interpol. I am dreaming of the same steps to be taken by the KPK in hunting down and finishing the suspects of other scandals," he said.          A similar view  was also expressed by Desmon J. Mahesa, a member of the DPR's Commission III on legal affairs. He said that the KPK should account for the expenses it had spent in the process of arresting and repatriating Nazaruddin.         He said that he would ask the House Commission III to summon the KPK and all legal auhorities involved in that process to question the cost which reached Rp4 billion. "Where did the money come from? We have the right to know. Did it come from the state? From what institutions, or did they have donors. We also questioned the capability KPK in carrying out the investigation," Desmon said.          He said that a study must be made to know how far the essence and impact of Nazaraddin's repatriation could have on the fight against corruption.          Desmon said that he was afraid the ways the law enforcers used -- which left the impression the suspect had been pampered-- were part of operations to silence Nazaruddin so that he would not reveal the crime any further.          "So, we should be careful to see whether the KPK or Nazaruddin is wrong. Whether Nazaruddin was really arrested in the real sense or else. All the processes in the arrest are a mystery," he said.          In the meantime, legislator Basuki Eka Purnama of the Golkar Faction in the House said that the KPK should not have an option from the beginning to hire a private jet plane in the repatriation of Nazaruddin.          He said that the KPK should have planned to use a business class or a regular aircraft. "The important thing is that the KPK should be able to show a result that would not condone the public perception that there has been a fabrication or a deal between the law enforcers and the suspect," he added.          The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has also raised the same question.  "All expenses must be accounted for. The government must maximize the use of its facilities," Emerson Yuntho of the ICW said meanwhile.          He said the state should have spent less and should not have sent such a large number of people to repatriate Nazaruddin.          Therefore, the ICW also questioned the case of searching and repatriating other suspects included in the list of wanted people, such as the case of Nazaruddin. "It is not clear which budget heading the funds came from. If the funds are taken from a number of ministries which had no budget for it, then it would have the potential to create a new form of corruption," he said.          He expressed doubts that the amounts of funds used to repatriate suspects were manipulated while the amounts of corrupted money returned by corruptors did not commensurate with the repatriation cost.          "So, there must be a fair balance between the amounts of repatriation cost and the amounts of money returned by the corruptors," he said.          The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said earlier the Rp4 billion cost for returning graft suspect Nazaruddin to Indonesia did not cover the fee of a chartered flight only. "As one of our deputy chiefs, Chandra Hamzah, has stated, the KPK did not only bear the cost of chartering a plane,"  KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.          He said  the costs of bringing Nazaruddin home amounting to Rp4 billion were also spent on  the accommodation and transportation of members of the joint team which picked up Nazaruddin in Colombia.          "So, it is not totally true that the KPK spent Rp4 billion (the plane's charter fee) only for the chartered plane," he said.          Nazaruddin was flown back to Indonesia using a hired jet plane with a capacity for 12 passengers, including the pilot and co-pilot.          Nazaruddin together with the joint team of investigators left Bogota, Colombia, on Friday (Aug 12, 2011) at 6 am Western Indonesian time (WIB) and arrived in Indonesia on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 13, 2011).          Nazaruddin, who is also member of Commission VII energy, mineral resources, research and technology affairs of the DPR, is a graft suspect linked to the construction of a SEA Games athlete's village in Palembang, South Sumatra. He fled to Singapore a day before the  KPK  asked the ministry of justice and human rights to issue a travel ban on  him on May 23.          He had been to several countries before he was caught at 2 am local time in Cartagena, Colombia, on Monday (Aug 8, 2011).***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/21:43/a014) 14-08-2011 22:55:

PEOPLE CALL FOR OPENNESS IN NAZARUDDIN'S JUDICIAL PROCESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 12 (ANTARA) - Various quarters have called for transparency in Nazaruddin's judicial process so that those who feel uncomfortable with the arrest and repatriation of the former Democratic Party treasurer will not have a chance to influence his testimonies.          "Openness is the answer to the public's suspicion that there is a potential for intervention (into Nazaruddin's case)," Hendardi, chairman of the SETARA Institute, said.          Hendardi said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and police were two institutions which had so far monopolized access to the suspect, particularly after Nazaruddin's arrest.          After hiding for about 75 days in three continents, Nazaruddin was finally arrested in Cartagena, a small town located about 600 km from Bogota, Colombia, South America, on Sunday (August 7, 2011).          Nazaruddin, who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) is a graft suspect linked to the construction of a SEA Games athlete's village in Palembang, South Sumatra. He fled to Singapore a day before the KPK asked the ministry of justice and human rights to issue a travel ban for him on May 24.          During his hideouts overseas, Nazaruddin has made a number of statements in a private TV station interview that certain top leaders of the ruling Democrat Party also were involved in the SEA Games village corruption case.          Considering the potential of intervention of those feeling uncomfortable with the trial of Nazaruddin at home, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on police to protect the suspect. "I want to remind the Police chief, please ensure his safety because there might be people who feel uncomfortable with his return to Indonesia," the head of state said.          Hendardi said although his statements might not be true, Nazaruddin should be tried transparently. "The public needs to closely watch the movements of parties suspected to have the potential to influence Nazaruddin's testimonies," the SETARA Institute chairman said.          He has even suggested that the repatriation and escorting of Muhammad Nazaruddin from Colombia to Indonesia must involve independent parties, journalists and public lawyers.          The graft suspect together with a joint team of investigators left Bogota, Colombia, for Indonesia at 6.a.m Western Indonesian time (WIB) on Friday (Aug.11, 2011).          Deputy House Speaker Anis Matta urged the court to try the suspect transparently when it was taking Nazaruddin to justice. "The KPK must conduct the court trials transparently so that the public can follow them," Anis Matta said.          Even the KPK itself should be watched closely in conducting the judicial process. Political observer Yudi Latief of the Paramadina University in Jakarta said that the KPK needed a special supervision when it was trying the corruption suspect, Nazaruddin.          He said that the KPK was now less solid because it was under the handling of its Ethics Council. The KPK Ethics Council is now examining a number of its leaders who are accused by Nazaruddin of having met him (in a graft deal?). Nazaruddin alleged that he had met with KPK leaders Ade Raharja and Chandra M Hamzah.          After all, the term of office of the KPK leaders will soon end and they have also failed to pass the KPK leadership selection for the next office term.          "I think the most worrying fact is that the KPK is now suffering from 'cold'. Internal relations within the KPK itself are not that good. Some have no more chance to be re-elected and some others are still counting their chances. This needs supervision," Yudi said.          He said that the KPK needed to be urged to deal with Nazaruddin's case immediately and disclose those involved in the corruption networks. "If this can be revealed it will provide an extraordinary lesson to people in the political circle," Yudi said.          Yudi Latief expressed doubt that, without public pressures, the Nazaruddin case would be isolated and would touch only those in the lower level. He also expressed concern that transactions would be involved if the case touched on the inner circle of the nation's top leadership.          "Inconsistency can take place if the case touches on the inner circles of the nation's top leadership and it can be exchanged with a lenient punishment given to Nazaruddin on the pretext that he is whistle blower," he said.          Therefore,  Bambang Widjojanto, a KPK leadership candidate, raised the idea that the Nazaruddin case must be handled by a joint team of experts. "It would be more effective if it is handled by a team of experts," Bambang said.          He said that a team of experts could conduct a more transparent process and prevent the involvement of the interest of either side. Bambang, who is also a lecturer at the Trisakti University, said that the team of experts could be composed of experts in the forensic, banking and psychology fields, for example.          The team could also suggest the handling of Nazaruddin case in three institutions of KPK, police and the prosecutor's office. "But there must be one institution assigned as the coordinator to prevent miss communications," Bambang said.          He said that not all of the corruption crime cases should be tackled by the KPK because not all investigators of the anti-graft body had special expertise to handle certain corruption cases.          Moreover, the public could follow the process if the Nazaruddin case is handled by the three institutions.  "Once an irregularity happens in the  judicial process, the public could soon question it," said Bambang.***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/F001) 13-08-2011 12:42:3

WITNESS PROTECTION URGED FOR NAZARUDDIN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 8 (ANTARA) - Corruption suspect and former Democrat Party (PD) treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin whom police have been pursuing  for over two months since he fled overseas last May was reportedly arrested in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sunday.          Following his arrest,  many quarters in the country asked for protection for him, including a call made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD and Setara Institute Chairman Hendardi.          During his flight  overseas, Nazaruddin  accused some top PD executives and government officials of being involved in  corruption as he was.          His overseas statements are feared to bring certain parties into trouble so that Nazaruddin needs protection, partly for his own safety  and partly for giving him a chance to speak openly without hesitation about all information he has.         "I ask the police chief to safeguard the safety of the man (Nazaruddin). Maybe, there are many who feel inconvenient (with the arrest of Nazaruddin). We should support the law enforcers so that  real justice can be done," President Yudhoyono said.          Therefore, President  Yudhoyono  asked  Muhammad Nazaruddin to disclose all the information he has on the involvement of other people in  corruption  as he had alleged in his statements from overseas.          "I hope there will  be a transparent, accountable and objective process in  which  Nazaruddin can disclose as freely  as possible (all information he has) for the sake of the truth," the President said  after a fast-breaking  dinner.          During his overseas hideouts, Nazaruddin happened to indicate in a private TV station interview that certain top leaders of the party were also involved in the corruption deal.          This was responded to by PD Chairman Anas Urbaningrum as an unfounded attack to him. In a recent PD coordination meeting  Anas said  that in recent days he had become a target of strong attacks to weaken his party. He said that he felt he was now the target of strong attacks amid the sensational issues plaguing the PD of late.          "I can feel I am the target of strong attacks as general chairman of the Democrat Party," Anas Urbaningrum said when addressing the National Coordination Meeting of the PD at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), West Java,  recently.          The corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the case of alleged corruption in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang (South Sumatra) and has named Nazaruddin as one of its suspects.          According to Fitriadi Muslim of the Financial Transactions Report Center (PPATK),  the center  had discovered about 109 suspicious financial transactions in the accounts of Nazaruddin. Of the 109 transactions, a number of transfers went to several accounts belonging to individuals and certain companies.          Now that Nazaruddin has reportedly been arrested overseas, many quarters hope that Nazaruddin will  be protected so that he can reveal all the information he has.          Setara Institute Chairman Hendardi said the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPKS) and police must provide protection for   Muhammad Nazaruddin when he arrived in Indonesia.          "Nazaruddin should be returned to Indonesia soon and be processed based on the law, the Setara Institute said. He needed protection because he had mentioned a number of PD's leaders and government officials who he alleged also had links with alleged corruption case in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang, South Sumatra.          He expressed hope that the examinations of Nazaruddin would be carried out transparently so that there would be no intervention from other related parties mentioned by him to have been implicated.          Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD shared the opinion of Hendardi, saying that the LPKS should give protection to Nazaruddin so that he could reveal the information he has so far.         "I hope the LPKS will provide protection for the former Democrat Party treasurer after he  arrives in Indonesia. We have to be fair," Mahfud said during a fast-breaking function here on Monday.          He said the problem that implicated Nazaruddin, and the people he had accused of being implicated, should be settled based on the law.  "Everything must be made clear and he (Nazaruddin) should be protected from possible terror because there should be reason whatsoever for him to be afraid to speak out (reveal information on corruption)," the Constitutional Court (MK) chairman said.          Hendardi believes that that the future of PD would experience a serious dynamics  in connection with the arrest of Nazaruddin.          The problem is that Nazaruddin's accusations he made during his hiding overseas --which are believed to be based on facts and are supported by documents-- touched on all main elements  of the PD.          Nazaruddin fled to Singapore a day before the Corruption Eradication Commission asked the ministry of justice and human rights to issue a travel ban for him on May 24.          He had been to several countries before he was caught in Cartagena,  the head of the National Police's public relations division, Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam, said.         The former PD treasurer  was caught with his wife and several other people at 2 am local time in Cartagena, Colombia, on Monday, police said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/00:25/a014) 09-08-2011 00:31:2

PEOPLE CALL FOR PROBE OF GRAFT IN GOVT PROJECTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 25 (ANTARA)  - Calls on law enforcing institutions to investigate alleged corruption in government projects have been on the rise since the case of corruption suspect former Democrat Party  treasurer Nazaruddin came up to the surface of late.         Legal institutions, such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) should have the guts to investigate alleged bribery practices in government projects such as the alleged bribery in an athlete center project in Hambalang village, Bogor, West Java.         Contractors of the Hambalang project, PT Adhi Karya and PT Wijaya Karya, are  accused by Nazaruddin that they have won the tenders  because they give bribes. Therefore, the KPK and AGO are called on to summon and examine the managements of the two companies.          "The KPK and AGO,  should act and investigate the case in order to prove whether the allegation by Nazaruddin is true or not, Executive Director of Public Policy Study Center Sofyano Zakaria said last week in response to Nazaruddin's accusation.          Nazaruddin who is also a legislator of the Democrat Party (PD) fled to Singapore one day before he was banned from overseas trip recently in connection with his alleged involvement in a corruption case worth Rp3.2 billion in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang, South Sumatra.          Sofyano urged the KPK to investigate the Hambalang athlete case. He called on the anti-graft body not to make red-handed arrest only," KPK should not only catch red-handed suspects with evidence", he said.          However, according to Ichsanuddin Noorsy, director of Public Policy Study Institute,  legal facts are needed to take the alleged Hambalang bribery case to the legal process. Yet, in the reality context, what have been said by Nazarduddin can all be categorized as a fact of an event whose investigation does not need the burden of proof principle.         In a telephone conversation with a private TV station last week, Nazaruddin said that the Hambalang athlete training center project was one of the projects whose tender winners had been decided even before they were called.         Nazaruddin said PT Adhi Karya and PT Wijaya Karya paid Rp100 billion in bribes to win the tenders for the project worth Rp1.5 trillion. In the conversation from his hideouts overseas, Nazaruddin said that PT Anugrah Nusantara played a role in arranging government contracts whose funds were to be taken from the revised state budget.          PT Anugrah Nusantara, which Nazaruddin said belongs to Anas Urbaningrum, general chairman of the ruling Democrat Party (PD),  collected a lot (of funds) from state-owned companies (SOE) such as Adhi Karya (ADHI) and Wijaya Karya (Wika) to enable them to win a tender.          The Hambalang project is a sports center project designed for athletes in Hambalang village, Citeureup sub district, Bogor district, West Java.          This athlete training center consisted of several buildings, such as dormitory and training halls. This project which belongs to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, sits on an area of 32 hectares and is expected to be completed in 2013.          Two state-owned enterprises operating in the construction business, Adhi Karya and Wijaya Karaya are the winner of the project. Based on first quarter 2011 financial report of PT Adhi Karya, the project is worth Rp1.518 trillion.          In the joint-venture business firm of the project, named Adhi Wika JO, Adhi Karya owns 70 percent of the shares while the remaining 30 percent belong to Wijaya Karya. The financial report also shows that the project is still undergoing.          According to Ichsanuddin, what was revealed by Nazaruddin in the TV telephone conversation was a normal practice in the business world, yet if the bribery practices involved state institutions they could have bad impact on the enforcement of the law. This is because bribery practices which involved government institutions would prompt corrupt practices.          Thus, the bribery case with the two state-owned firms is a public secrete. What has been done by Adhi Karya and Wijaya Karya is a normal practice in the business world anywhere.          Conspiracy of that kind in the country will only end with moral and social sanctions from the public. This is because the legal system in Indonesia is still trapped in the legal positivism aspect.          Researcher of Institute for Development of Economics and Finance Indonesia, Aviliani, said meanwhile that state-owned companies had practiced bribery cases since a long ago. Yet in recent days cases of this kind of practices in publicly listed state firms had declined because these companies were required to operate transparently and openly.          They are required to report to the Capital Market Supervisory Board - Financial Institution (Bapepam-LK) the process of each of the tender they have organized.          She said that bribery practices at state-owned companies which were not yet publicly listed such as Pertamina (oil and gas firm) and PLN (electricity) was still difficult to be monitored.          In this case, Aviliani expressed hoped that political parties would not disturb national development by seeking advantage for only a group of people.  What has been accused of by Nazruddin should serve as a reminder for political parties.          "Nazaruddin's disclosure is only a peak of an iceberg that calls for good governance in projects involving state companies," she said.          Nazaruddin, whose whereabouts are now unknown, has become fugitive. He is linked to a corruption case in the SEA Games athlete house in Pelambang. Rosalina Manulang, one of the suspects in the case, when grilled by KPK said she was a subordinate of Muhammad Nazaruddin.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/14:37/f001) 25-07-2011 14:42:3

NAZARUDDIN UNDER THREAT?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 10 (ANTARA) - Corruption suspect former Democratic Party (PD) treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin who is believed now hiding abroad and wanted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is reportedly willing to return home if police provide him with protection.          Nazaruddin who is still a legislator might be afraid to go home as the public in the country is demanding his arrest but why should he be afraid of the insistence for his arrest,  or there is another more important reason. Only Nazaruddin has the answer.          According to Setara Institute's chairman Hendardi, the dynamics in the Democratic Party (PD) is now changing from its early stand in sternly protecting  Nazaruddin to attacking him now. "The PD elite might deliberately be using a blow-up political communication strategy with aggressive attitude and comments. They  even have reported him to the police," Hendardi said.          The Setera Institute chairman said that the drastic change in the PD's attitude was apparently designed to counter the various issues supposedly disseminated by Nazaruddin through a Blackbarry Messenger (BBM). The ultimate objective of PD's change of attitude was to make the  public disbelieve the issues disseminated through the BBM.          He said that the allegations through the BBM that PD elite had collectively been involved in corruption was obviously not something  certain, yet the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must scrutinize the information.  "It is impossible for a political corruption (budget mafia) to be committed individually," he said.          If it is true that Nazaruddin has important information, then parties involved in it will certainly be afraid if Nazaruddin is grilled in court.  So, is Nazaurddin fear of threats to his safety  has something to do with this ? It is only Nazaruddin who knows it.          Legislator Martin Hutabarat said that the former PD general treasurer will return to Indonesia at the end of this month but he was afraid of his safety so that he needed police protection.         "I got the information from Nazaruddin's close friend. I myself doubt the information," Martin, who is member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission III on legal affairs, said during a public discussion over the polemics of Nazaruddin case here over the weekend.         Legislator Martin Hutabarat said he had information that corruption suspect former Democrat Party (PD) treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin would return home before the fasting month of Ramadhan  but on condition that police would provide him with security and guarantee his safety.         "I doubt the information because at present the public has strong insistence on the arrest of Nazaruddin," he said.          The KPK is investigating the case of alleged corruption in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang (South Sumatra) and has named Nazaruddin as one of its suspects. However,  Nazaraddin had fled to Singapore  one day before he was banned from traveling over seas. His whereabouts now is unknown.          According to Fitriadi Muslim of the  Financial Transactions Report Center (PPATK), Nazaruddin could be tried in absentia.          "In order to prosecute Nazaruddin in absentia, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) can use the Anti-Money Laundering Law," Fitriadi Muslim said.          Fitriadi said that the PPATK had discovered about 109 suspicious financial transactions in the accounts of Nazaruddin. Of the 109 transactions, a number of transfers went to several accounts belonging to individuals and certain companies.          Six of the suspicious transactions  have been reported to law enforcers such as the KPK. However, the PPATK did not disclose the names of the recipients of the suspicious transactions.          "Based on the law, PPATK is not allowed to disclose publicly the names of recipients and the sources of a flow s of suspicious funds," Titri said.          Fitriadi said that by using Law No.8 / 2010 on Money Laundering, the KPK can try Nazaruddin without his presence.          However, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Febri Diansyah did not agree the idea to try the PD cadre  in absentia. He reminded that the KPK should not use the anti money laundering law because if it did so, important explanations on cases and people in his circles could not be obtained directly.          "Nazaruddin should not be tried in absentia because KPK needs a lot of explanations directly from him and these explanations can be used by the KPK to enter into other alleged cases which were still undisclosed," Febri said.           Therefore, the  ICW asked the  KPK  not to have doubts in investigating the alleged corruption case of  Nazaruddin. "The police role in the Nazaruddin case is to support the KPK to speed up investigation,"   Febri Diansyah said.           Febri said that the role of police in the Nazaruddin case should be more on assisting the KPK only in speeding up the handling of the former Democrat Party (PD) treasurer case.           "If Nazruddin is arrested, no matter who made the arrest, Nazaruddin should be under the control of KPK which is under the control of the people," the ICW activist said.           He said that it should not happen that Nazaruddin, if he was already arrested, was put under the control of other sides, namely political party because it would be very risky.     ***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG /a014) 10-07-2011 17:18: