Ronna Nirmala – The trial of five former Golkar Party legislators accused of taking bribes in the selection of a central bank official began on Thursday at the Anti-Corruption Court in Jakarta.
Defendants Asep Ruchimat Sudjana, Teuku Muhammad Nurlif, Baharuddin Aritonang, Reza Kamarullah and Hengky Baramuli are charged with taking bribes to help elect Miranda Goeltom as Bank Indonesia's senior deputy governor in 2004.
Lead prosecutor Suwarji alleged that Nurlif took Rp 550 million ($65,000), Reza Rp 500 million, Hengky Rp 450 million and Asep and Baharuddin Rp 150 million each in travelers checks from businesswoman Nunun Nurbaeti Daradjatun, an associate of Miranda's and the wife of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Adang Daradjatun.
"The defendants were fully aware that the checks were linked to the successful appointment of Miranda Goeltom as a Bank Indonesia deputy governor in 2004," Suwarji said.
They each face two counts of corruption that carry a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to Rp 250 million.
The five men are among 26 former and serving members of the House of Representatives arrested and charged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Rp 24 billion bribery scandal. One suspect has since passed away while another is currently serving time for a separate corruption case.
The politicians, who are from Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and United Development Party (PPP), were detained en masse in early February.
The list of suspects also includes former minister and Golkar politician Paskah Suzetta, senior PPP politician Daniel Tandjung and senior PDI-P politicians Max Moein and Panda Nababan. Panda is the only sitting legislator among the accused.
Golkar's Hamka Yandhu, the PDI-P's Dudhie Makmun Murod, the PPP's Endin Soefihara and Udju Djuhaeri, of the now defunct police and military faction, have already been convicted and jailed for their roles in the case.
The Anti-Corruption Court ruled that the four had channeled the traveler's checks from Nunun to the other lawmakers.
The KPK is still investigating Nunun's role, as well as that of First Mujur Plantation, the palm oil company that bought the checks, and Miranda.
Nunun is believed to be in Singapore and has ignored repeated summonses from the KPK. Her husband and lawyers claim she is suffering from a mystery illness that causes memory loss.