Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle officials on Friday demanded answers from antigraft investigators who have named 14 current and former party lawmakers as suspects in a 2004 bribery case.
Officials from the party known as the PDI-P visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to seek clarification on the legal procedures taken in the naming of the 14 as suspects for taking bribes in connection with the 2004 appointment of economist Miranda Goeltom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor.
While the PDI-P was quick to say it was only after information and was not trying to interfere in a corruption investigation, some observers said it could damage its reputation as a populist party if it were seen to be trying to protect corrupt members.
"We just need to know more about the legal procedures the body took in supporting its decision to name the 14 as suspects," PDI-P lawmaker Trimedya Panjaitan said.
A corruption watchdog said the party needed to be careful not to appear like it was trying to influence the KPK probe.
"The PDI-P is a big party known for siding with the poor. It would be a betrayal of the party's constituents if it defended members of the party involved in a Rp 24 billion graft scandal," said Febri Diansyah, a researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch.
The 14 former and current PDI-P members, including sitting lawmaker and senior party member Panda Nababan, were accused of receiving between Rp 250 million and Rp 1.45 billion ($28,000 and $160,000) in bribes.
The KPK named 12 other suspects in the case. Two were from the United Development Party (PPP) and 10 were from the Golkar Party, including former minister Paskah Suzetta.
Shortly after the KPK named the suspects, politicians from all three parties questioned why the anticorruption body had failed to go after Miranda and the individual or individuals who provided the money. They stressed that the KPK should have first tracked down those who offered the bribe.
"It would be odd if the KPK failed to arrest the one who provided the bribe. The KPK's reputation could be tarnished if it failed to do that," said Priyo Budi Santoso, a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and a Golkar member.
On this point, the ICW is in agreement with lawmakers. "The KPK must trace the money and track down those who financed the bribe," Febri said.
Golkar's Hamka Yandhu, Dudhi Makmun Murod, from PDI-P, PPP's Endin Soefihara and Udju Djuhaeri, from the now defunct police and military faction at the House, have already been jailed for their roles in the bribery
The Anti-Corruption Court ruled the four had channeled a total of Rp 24 billion in traveler's checks from businesswoman Nunun Nurbaeti Daradjatun, the wife of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Adang Dardjatun.
KPK deputy chairman Bibit Samad Rianto said the antigraft body was still investigating the possible roles of Nunun, Miranda and First Mujur Plantation, a palm oil company that purchased the checks, in the bribery case. First Mujur is a subsidiary of the Artha Graha group, which is owned by tycoon Tommy Winata.
Nunun is in Singapore and has ignored several summonses from the KPK, claiming that she is suffering from a mysterious illness that causes memory loss.
The ICW has previously said it was confident the KPK would be able to provide answers to what role, if any, Miranda played in the bribery.