Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission announced on Wednesday that they had named an unprecedented 26 former and current members of the House of Representatives as suspects for allegedly receiving bribe money in connection with the appointment of a senior central bank executive in 2004.
Bibit Samad Riyanto, deputy chairman of the commission, known as the KPK, said that all 26 were named suspects on Aug. 27 for receiving between Rp 500 million ($55,500) to Rp 600 million in exchange for voting for economist Miranda Goeltom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor during a House selection process.
The list of suspects includes: Former National Development Planning Minister Paskah Suzetta from the Golkar Party, senior United Development Party (PPP) politician Daniel Tandjung and senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politicians Max Moein and Panda Nababan.
Former PDI-P lawmaker Agus Condro Prayitno who first reported the bribery allegations to the KPK in 2008 was also declared a suspect.
A total of 41 lawmakers voted for Miranda, but the KPK deputy said two legislators did not receive any bribe money. Bibit added that the KPK was probing the involvement of three more possible suspects.
Some of the lawmakers that supposedly received bribes had also passed away. "We cannot press any criminal charge against the ones that have already died," he said.
Hamka Yandhu of Golkar, Dudhie Makmun Murod of PDI-P, Endin Soefihara of PPP and Udju Djuhaeri of the police and military faction have already been sentenced to between 18 months and 2 years in jail.
The case centers on Rp 24 billion ($2.6 million) that was distributed to lawmakers to secure Miranda's deputy governorship in 2004.
The Anti-Corruption Court has previously found four active and former lawmakers guilty of distributing bribes in the form of 480 traveler's checks to members of their respective parties in the House in exchange for their support for Miranda's nomination.
The court found the checks were provided by businesswoman Nunun Nurbaetie Daradjatun, an associate of Miranda's. At least 35 other lawmakers received the checks, the court ruled.
The Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK) traced all 480 checks allegedly used in the bribe and discovered they were issued by PT Bank International Indonesia and purchased by PT First Mujur Plantation and Industry, a palm oil company owned by Tommy Winata.