Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairmen Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah finally had their day in court Tuesday at the trial of Anggodo Widjojo, who claims that the pair attempted to extort money from him.
Their presence at the trial triggered a heated exchange after defense attorney O.C. Kaligis questioned the relevance of testimony given by the two officials. Kaligis repeatedly quoted passages from his book, Korupsi Bibit-Chandra (The Bibit-Chandra Corruption), while questioning Chandra.
Chandra refused to answer Kaligis' questions and said the defense attorney's book was not necessarily factual. Chandra also said that he never read the book.
"Do you know that this book was used as evidence during the pre-trial lawsuit [contesting the Attorney General's decision to drop the prosecution of Bibit and Chandra]?" Kaligis asked. Chandra repeated that he knew nothing of the book.
The quarrel raised the ire of presiding judge Tjokorda Rai Suamba, who ordered Kaligis to stop quoting the book and said it could not be used as evidence.
The attorney, who earlier drew laughter when he boasted that he had applied to be KPK chairman, continued to spar with Chandra. "Just carry on," a visibly impatient Tjokorda said after Kaligis and Chandra debated the KPK official's involvement in Anggodo's case.
Chandra and Bibit testified that they never met Anggodo and knew nothing about an alleged meeting between Anggodo's brother, former KPK leader Antasari Azhar and middleman Ari Muladi in Singapore.
There was more laughter in the courtroom when Tjokorda quipped that Chandra's testimony might benefit the defense more than the prosecution.
The pair also testified that they did not know who had filed charges of extortion and abuse of power against them. "I don't know if you reported that I allegedly abused my authority – but I think you did," Bibit told Anggodo.
Anggodo is currently standing trial on allegations that he tried to bribe Chandra and Bibit. He is also alleged to have influenced the KPK to drop its investigation of his allegedly corrupt activities.
Both Bibit and Chandra testified that Anggodo obstructed the work of the KPK by fabricating a story that implicated them in soliciting bribes and falsifying information.
"I was in charge of the law enforcement directorate. When the police arrested me, it interfered with the KPK's performance," Bibit said.
According to the court, Anggodo and Ari Muladi tried, to frame the KPK deputy leaders on July 15, 2009.
Chandra also said that the charges hindered his duties at the KPK. "In their chronology, I was put into the position of trying to extort money from PT Masaro in relation to a corruption case involving Anggoro," he said.
Bibit and Chandra may still face prosecution by the Attorney General's Office because of Anggodo's allegations.
A prosecutor, Sumarji, told The Jakarta Post after the session that the AGO presented the testimony of Bibit and Chandra during Anggodo's trial to prove that the KPK leaders were innocent.
"How could they have solicited bribes or abused power if they never met Anggodo?" Sumarji said.